Roger Federer has never hesitated to express his admiration for Serena Williams. At one point, he even described her as the ultimate tennis “GOAT,” ranking her above himself, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. He has also taken the opportunity to praise Venus Williams for her remarkable contributions to the sport.

Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles—the most by any woman in the Open Era and the second most overall, behind only Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court. Yet her legacy extends far beyond her trophy count. From her relentless fight for equal prize money to serving as a powerful inspiration for Black athletes around the world, her influence on both tennis and society is nothing short of legendary.

To top it off, the American achieved one of the most iconic feats in tennis history by winning the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with her daughter, Olympia. She later returned to the tour after giving birth and still managed to reach multiple Grand Slam finals, further cementing her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

During a 2018 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Roger Federer expressed deep admiration for Serena Williams, calling her the greatest player the sport has ever seen. He said:….“

Overall, we know [Serena] is all the way up there. I’m probably up there with somebody, somehow. Maybe there’s a group, a best of five—and if you’re in that group, you should be pleased and happy. Tennis is a funky sport when it comes to that stuff. I’m in full admiration of Serena. And Venus, too, by the way.”

The Swiss great even ranked her above himself, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, adding:

“It’s been fascinating to watch. She had a totally different upbringing — I came up through Switzerland with the federation; she did it with her dad and her sister. It’s an amazing story unto itself — and then she became one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tennis players of all time.”

For Serena Williams and Roger Federer, the respect has always been mutual. The American has often spoken glowingly of the 20-time Grand Slam champion, praising both his talent and the grace with which he carried himself throughout his career.

Serena Williams: “Roger Federer is a genius…he’s just a synopsis of greatness and class”

In 2021, Serena Williams openly expressed her admiration for Roger Federer during a press interaction. She described him as a “genius” and called him the embodiment of “greatness and class,” underscoring just how highly she regards the Swiss maestro..

“I think two words sum it up: Roger Federer. He’s just the synopsis of greatness and class and amazing, and he really changed the game. You see players playing like him, moving like him, doing his techniques. The guy is a genius.”

Williams played the final tournament of her professional career at the 2022 US Open, bringing her remarkable journey full circle at her home Grand Slam. She teamed up with her sister Venus for one last doubles run, though the pair ultimately came up short. In singles, she battled valiantly before bowing out in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Meanwhile, Federer also brought his illustrious career to a close that same year, choosing the Laver Cup as his final event. His farewell was nothing short of unforgettable, surrounded by his greatest rivals and closest friends — Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.