Interestingly, the German won her final major in 1999 at the French Open, the same year the younger Williams sister won her first, at Flushing Meadow.
Williams will meet 20th seeded Spaniard, Garbine Murguruza, who is 1-2 against the formidable American - the win, a hefty 6-2 6-2 trouncing at the French Open last year suggesting perhaps a degree of caution should be applied to the anticipation of a Williams romp.
Yesterday, Williams flogged Maria Sharapova in straight sets for her 17th successive win over the icy Russian. Sharapova has won just five sets in their last 18 meetings.
The pair aren't soul mates. Sharapova has few friends on the international circuit. Her manner and behaviour see to that.
Yet Sharapova is rated the highest earning female sportsperson on the planet through carefully cultivated image handling.
Williams has won $6,175,648 in prizemoney this year, three times as much as Sharapova; and $69,676, 428 in career prize money, about twice as much as the Russian.
It's barely a rivalry any more, even though it gets built up as such every time they meet. Strange.
The bigger question is how history will regard Williams.
Her on-court demeanour hasn't always been impressive. Abusing officials is unforgivable.
Off court, she had an early reputation of being less than willing to pitch in with the responsibilities shared by other leading players.
By the time she's finished, and she's 33 now, she may have overtaken Court in titles. Even if she doesn't, she has a case as formidable as her power game to claim The Best accolade.
Graf had a ferocious forehand and was able to work around a modest backhand, while Court was a serve and volley legend, the only player to have won a boxed set of all 12 (singles, doubles and mixed doubles) titles at the four majors.
But it's hard to imagine, when Williams is on song, that there's been a player to better her.
A crunching serve, thunderous ground strokes and a deceptive mover for a strongly-built woman make up a formidable package.
However, comparing stars of different eras is a funny business.
You have to assume the best in one era would have similarly prospered in others. Court, Graf, Helen Wills Moody (19 majors) and Martina Navratilova (18) were wonderful players. Had to have been.
When golfer Tiger Woods was in his pomp or, in tennis terms, when facing Rafael Nadal on clay, opponents must have wondered how on earth to beat them.
So it must be for Williams' opponents, bar a bare handful. Best Ever debates are fun, nothing more. But it's hard to argue against the notion that Williams is certainly en route to winning this mythical title.
