Serena Williams ranked as icon alongside Muhammad Ali by fellow US tennis legends
Serena Williams ranks alongside such icons as Muhammad Ali among the greatest legends in sport, retired US tennis stars John McEnroe and Chris Evert said on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of their commentary duties for the US Open that begins on Monday, Evert hailed 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who is likely to retire after this year's Grand Slam showdown in New York. "I would put her up there as far as the influence, the fact how she revolutionized the game and also how she's influenced girls and women and people throughout the world," Evert said. "That's how big of a star. She's a superstar. What impresses me the most is just off-court influence and how she's influenced young women to own their power, to speak their mind, to be fearless." McEnroe gave Serena the GOAT label -- as in Greatest of All Time.
