John McEnroe has hailed the retiring Serena Williams as «the greatest player who ever lived» ahead of the 2022 US Open. Williams announced her intention to «evolve away» from the sport earlier this month, signalling a desire to take on new challenges after the final Grand Slam of the year in New York.
Ad It will bring to a close a glittering career that has included 23 major singles titles, a record in the Open Era, and 14 Grand Slam doubles triumphs.
US Open'It's what I want for myself' — Gauff reveals mentality shift in pursuit of being 'the greatest'7 HOURS AGO Describing Williams as an «icon» and «global superstar», McEnroe compared the 40-year-old's impact on tennis to that of Tiger Woods on golf, and believes that her story will continue to inspire and show that anyone can make it to the top. «You can look at the accomplishments, she has the Grand Slam victories,» McEnroe said of his fellow American's career. «The way that she moves the needle when she plays, it's like Tiger Woods and golf.
When she plays, it's a whole different story. »Off the court, I don't know [her] as well, I know that she's had a lot of difficulties in her life that she talks about in her own documentaries, but she has come out the other end as this icon, global superstar. «Her story alone, what she represents as someone who's an African-American girl who came from a tough situation, and became the greatest player that ever lived.