'I wouldn't be here without her' - Naomi Osaka praises Serena Williams impact on tennis ahead of retirement

Naomi Osaka heaped praised on Serena Williams and her impact on tennis ahead of the legend's retirement from the sport. Williams is set to withdraw from tennis following the US Open, where she will compete in the singles and doubles events. Ad Osaka grew up watching Serena Williams dominate the women's game until she became a force in tennis herself.

US OpenWilliams sisters to play doubles at Flushing Meadows ahead of Serena's retirementAN HOUR AGO But the two-time US Open winner admitted that she 'would not be here' without Serena's contribution to, and influence on the sport. «I think that her legacy is really wide to the point where you can't even describe it in words,» added Osaka. «She changed the sport so much.

She's introduced people that have never heard of tennis into the sport. And I think I'm a product of what she's done. I wouldn't be here without Serena, Venus, you know, her whole family.

»I'm, like, very thankful to her and I am always trying to figure out how to sum it into words but I honestly think that she is like the biggest force in the sport. And that's not like intentionally trying to, like, make (Roger) Federer or (Rafa) Nadal smaller. I just think like she's the biggest thing that will ever be in the sport.

'I cried when Serena announced her farewell' — Clijsters Williams hints at continuing tennis career beyond US Open «It's just really an honour just to watch her play and to see that she's giving us a chance to, like, watch her more because I remember seeing an interview that she did — I don't know what it was, an on-court thing — where she was like if she retires she'll never tell anyone. »So, I was always really scared. I was 'Dang, I don't know when's the last time that she is going to play.'