Serena seen as icon with 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 ESPN 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 revolutionised 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.

""All you need to say about Serena is that she's put herself in that pantheon of GOATs - Billie Jean King. Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady. That's where Serena is.

"She has become like an icon of icons. It probably happened later than it deserved to for her, but it's here now."

McEnroe said Williams changed the game with her power and devastating serve, comparing her to NBA 3-point sharpshooter Stephen Curry.

"Serena took it to that next level because she had the greatest serve ever, better than a lot of guys," McEnroe said. "I would compare her in a way, the way she changed it, to Steph Curry. Everyone is shooting 3-pointers, but no one does it as well as him.

Evert spoke of Williams as an inspiration to others.

"She has been very inspirational off the court," Evert said. "On the court, it's obvious, her record, her power, her mental toughness. But the intangibles, the fearlessness in her, has really impressed