“I’m in Full Admiration of Serena”: When Roger Federer Settled the GOAT Debate of Tennis

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer has been a true ambassador of tennis. Over the years, he has motivated and encouraged youngsters to develop a liking for the game with his aura and flawless style of play. Even at the age of 40, he’s still competing at an elite level and continues to be an inspiration. 

Recently, there was an old confession made by Roger Federer that was doing the rounds. He was talking about the debate for the GOAT and he mentioned 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams’ name. 

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 20: (L-R) Naomi Osaka of Japan, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Serena Williams of the United States and Roger Federer of Switzerland perform the ribbon cutting ceremony on the new Stadium Court at the Hard Rock Stadium, before the first match of the Miami Open on March 20, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

He stated, “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 player of all time.”

Roger Federer applauds Venus and Serena Williams 

Roger was all praise for the Williams sisters. He highlighted the difficulties in their upbringing. Therefore, he holds Serena and Venus in high regard. 

The 40-year-old further added, “It’s not fair to compare, actually. But we know [Serena] is all the way up there. I’m probably up there with somebody. Maybe there’s a group, a best of five – and if you’re in that group, you should be pleased and happy. I’m in full admiration of Serena. And Venus too, by the way.”

MALAKOFF, FRANCE – MAY 23: Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Roger Federer attend the Nike Night Tennis mixed doubles presentation on May 23, 2013 in Malakoff, France. (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/Getty Images)

Both Williams and Federer have not had their best seasons this year. Injuries have been a constant roadblock on their journeys. They even missed the last Grand Slam event of the season, the US Open 2021. 

However, as a tennis fan, you can’t rule out a comeback from these unique athletes who have repeatedly bounced back from adversity in the past. We hope to see them back on the courts as soon as possible. 

Watch this story: Top Seeds Naomi Osaka, John Isner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Others Who Faced Huge Upsets at US Open

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