Why Wimbledon 2016 Is Crucial to Serena Williams' Pursuit of Steffi Graf

World No. 1 Serena Williams continues her pursuit of the legendary Steffi Graf as she looks to tie the German legend with her 22nd career major at Wimbledon 2016. The American superstar is a six-time and defending champion at the All England Club.

But being the favorite is not an easy burden to carry as the 34-year-old looks to slow down the setting of her dominance of the WTA tour.

Since her disappointing U.S. Open semifinal loss to lightweight Italian veteran Roberta Vinci, Williams took time off, lost in the next two major finals and has been faced with more scrutiny about her chances to win two more majors and surpass Graf for major titles.

Is Wimbledon more of a “must-win” title because she was unable to finish with the championship on the slower major surfaces in 2016?

Will she feel greater pressure to beat Father Time before she can no longer toss up the world and bat it across the tennis universe?

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Changing of the Guard

Losing to Vinci was a shock. Losing to Angelique Kerber’s career masterpiece was surprising. Losing to powerful young Garbine Muguruza had some tennis observers wondering if the Spaniard is the "next great champion" or the heir apparent to the next generation of power tennis.

Muguruza did win on French Open clay, a surface that she loves, but now she’s confidently talking about winning Wimbledon, hardly unreasonable given that she was the finalist who lost to Williams in 2015. She has grown tremendously after another year of bigger matches and success.

While much of the talk about Muguruza and younger stars ruling tennis is premature, if indeed it comes to fruition anytime soon, it’s clear Williams is facing a more emboldened group of rivals who believe she is vulnerable or her aura has been stripped down, according to Chris Evert, per Richard Pagliaro for Tennis Now.

Evert added that Williams has been unable to impose her dominance the way she did prior to the U.S. Open.

“What I'm seeing is the fact that in the last three Grand Slams, she hasn't been able to get herself into the next gear when she's in trouble," said Evert. "This is what she's famous for her whole career. We haven't seen that.”

So is Williams' more relative difficulties in nailing down major No. 21 more about other stars lifting their performances, or is it more about the veteran fading from her most dominant days? Chicken or egg? Perhaps they have created each other.

Dominic Lipinski/Associated Press

Wimbledon Now or Never?

There will be plenty of challenges at Wimbledon besides Muguruza. Fellow American Madison Keys might be more similar to Williams with her serve and power, and she could be eyeing her breakthrough. Or perhaps veterans like Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep or two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova are ready for a magical run at SW19.

All of which squarely puts the pressure on Williams to win Wimbledon now and perhaps follow up with the U.S. Open title in September if she is to win two more career majors and surpass Graf.

If she does not win Wimbledon, the best she could do is tie Graf with a U.S. Open title before the long months off and another crack at the Australian or French Open titles in 2017. It’s a distant time that may or may not set up a realistic chance for Williams to continue as a major contender. When will her talent finally bow before the incessant demands of age and slower recovery?

There’s no doubt Williams is aware of her all-time legacy, and it could be the most important reason she continues to fight so hard to chase down Graf. It’s become her white whale.

On the other hand, pressure and motivation go hand-in-hand. Williams has dealt with this combination her entire tennis career, and she has balanced multiple periods of dominance with mini-droughts and eventual comebacks. Nobody has been more resilient in bouncing back from naysayers and challenges—old or new.

The case for Williams to win Wimbledon 2016 is a strong one. She has claimed 21 super titles, fought several generations of stars and become the most powerful and mentally tough player on tour. She works for nothing less than major titles, and she will certainly not ride off quietly into the sunset without a few more epic battles.

Everything is crucial late in Williams' career, but she probably would not have it any other way. That’s how she got to 21 major titles in the first place.