The frequently debated Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate in men’s tennis shows no signs of ending as one of the top players on the WTA Tour voices her view.
23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams has paid tribute to Roger Federer earlier this week. Speaking to reporters from the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, she labelled the Swiss Maestro as the ‘greatest player’ as she praised his legacy in the sport. Federer is a member of the Big Three clan along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Between them they have won 58 major titles with Federer and Nadal having 20 each.
Speaking about the 39-year-old ahead of his return to competitive tennis this week in Geneva, Williams has hailed the impact he has had on the game in her view. Overall the former world No.1 has won 103 ATP trophies so far in his career which is the second highest of all time after Jimmy Connors.
“I think two words sum it up: Roger Federer,” Williams told reporters.
“He’s just a synopsis of greatness and class and amazing and really changed the game. You see players playing like him, moving like him, doing his techniques. The guy is (a) genius.”
Branding herself as a ‘Superfan’ of Federer, Williams said she can only hope to play like him. Even though she is regarded as one of the most successful female players in the history of the sport. Williams has held the No.1 ranking for 319 weeks which is the third longest streak in WTA history and has won 73 titles herself.
“I just feel like he is really the greatest player,” Williams continued.
“You can’t not like the guy, that’s how I feel. His game is so fantastic. If I could only play like him.”
It is not the first time the American has spoken highly of Federer. The two played against each in the Hopman Cup back in 2019 in the mixed doubles. Following the match she said ‘the guy is the greatest of all time, both on and off the court.’
In Parma this week Williams won her first match since the Australian Open after defeating Italy’s Lisa Pigato in straight sets on Monday. She hasn’t won a title on the clay since 2016 when she triumphed in Rome at the Italian Open.
