What they said

When Serena steps away from tennis, she will leave as the sport’s greatest player. After a career that has inspired a new generation of players and fans, she will forever be known as a champion who won on the court and raised the global profile of the sport off of it.

— Former world No 1 Billie Jean King

She should do whatever she wants. She’s an icon. Her place in American society has gone to a place where she deserves it after everything she’s accomplished, everything she’s done.

— Former world No 1 John McEnroe

❛She has impacted tennis on the court and off the court. She’s taken tennis off the sports pages and into pop culture. She bridges people of all generations, diversity of background. She’s become a great spokesperson, a philanthropist and she’s matured before our eyes.

— Former world No 3 Pam Shriver

The legacy that she’s left through her tennis career is something that I don’t think any other player can probably touch. I think that the legacy that she will continue to leave throughout her life is something that can inspire many more generations.

— World No 11 Coco Gauff

❛I love you and so proud of you.

— Denmark’s former Australian Open Champion Caroline Wozniacki

Love you Serena! Thank you for the road you and @venuswilliams have paved to allow me to be here and make a life for myself and my son! You will be missed, but so excited to see what comes next.

— American tennis player Taylor Townsend

❛Serena’s influenced every single player on tour. She’s also brought tennis to a worldwide audience, just in terms of her presence on court and the amount of people she sort of has drawn attention to tennis.

— Canadian tennis player Rebecca Marino