Even before Serena Williams” farewell, the stars of the scene bowed down to the tennis queen.
Rafael Nadal and others paid their utmost respect to the 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner, who will take on Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic in the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium on 30 August night (1.00am CEST). The 40-year-old Williams will most likely end her glorious career after the home tournament.
Rafael Nadal (Spain/Grand Slam record winner):
“As an athlete, she was not only a tennis player but also one of the most important athletes in the history of the sport. From a tennis point of view, it is a great loss that she is leaving. Now she has earned the right to choose what she wants to do. She is a legend. I hope she will continue to be involved in the tennis world. “
Coco Gauff (USA/World No. 12):
“Before Serena came along, there wasn’t really an icon of the sport that looked like me. Growing up, I never thought I was different because the world number one was someone who looked like me. She never diminished herself. I love that she always aspired to be bigger herself. “
Iga Swiatek (Poland/World No. 1):
“For me it’s still quite surreal when I see her. I still feel like a kid watching her. She is the great role model, for sure. Especially with how she manages to do business or be a mother and play at the same time. I think it’s great that we have someone like that in our sport who paved the way and showed us that you can do anything. The sky is the limit. “
Emma Raducanu (Great Britain/Defending US Open Champion):
“Serena has achieved so much in this match. To play for so long, I think it’s really inspiring. It just shows her drive. It’s pretty incredible how dominant she’s been for most of her career. “
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece/World number five):
“Serena had started something like a domino effect with her career, with her community. She was very inspiring, also for me. What she did on the court and off the court brought tennis to the top and made it so important as a sport. She is a phenomenon. “
