Serena among greatest: Fedex
COMPLIMENT Federer believes that the younger Williams sister had a more difficult way to the top compared to him
LONDON: Roger Federer, one of the all time greats of the game, labelled Serena Williams arguably the greatest player of alltime.
The world number two is currently skipping the clay-court season before preparing for a strong second half of the year.
Williams is preparing to play at the French Open – her first Grand Slam since having her first child – and is looking to add to her 23 major singles titles.
Federer is two months older than Williams and both have enjoyed similar success, but he reflected on the different paths they had taken.
“She had a totally different upbringing – I came up through Switzerland with the federation, she did it with her dad and her sister,” he said.
“It’s an amazing story unto itself and then she became one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis player of all time.”
He added: “We know (Williams) 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.”
SERENA DRAWN TO PLAY PLISKOVA
Serena Williams’ return to Grand Slam tennis will see her play Kristyna Pliskova in the first round of the French Open.
The American great has not played one of tennis’ major tournaments since winning a 23rd Grand Slam title - an Open Era record - at the Australian Open in 2017, having given birth to her daughter last September.
Serena and Venus Williams have also been awarded wildcards to compete in the women’s doubles at the French Open.
Williams’ extended absence from the WTA Tour means she heads to Roland Garros, where she is a three-time champion, unseeded and meets world number 70 Pliskova first up.
Should she come through that tie unscathed, a secondround date with Ashleigh Barty (17) or Natalia Vikhlyantseva awaits, while Julia Georges (11) is a potential opponent in round three. Even more intriguingly, Williams could come up against her old nemesis Maria Sharapova in the last 16, with Pliskova’s twin sister Karolina another possibility.
The Williams sisters have only featured twice at Roland Garros since winning in 2010.
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She had a totally different upbringing – I came up through Switzerland with the federation, she did it with her dad and her sister.
On Serena Williams’ rise in tennis
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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. On where he stands among the greats