Serena Williams: Mats Wilander salutes ‘GOAT’ for changing tennis and showing ‘human’ side with near-misses

Serena Williams goes down as one of the greatest athletes of all time, according to Eurosport’s Mats Wilander, who says his admiration grew for the American after she showed her “human” side during her career near-misses. The 40-year-old looks set to retire after the US Open, having written a first-person piece for Vogue this week in which she stated she will “evolve away” from the sport.

Ad Williams will chase that elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title at Flushing Meadows, which starts on August 29, but her status as a legend in the sport is already sealed. TennisWilander: Serena changed tennis and her retirement will be a sad dayAN HOUR AGO And Wilander – a seven-time Grand Slam champion – praised Williams for transcending tennis and elevating the sport to a wider audience, but also for fighting through some “heart-breaking” defeats – including losses in her past four major finals, and the 2015 US Open semi-final which ended her Calendar Grand Slam hopes.

“Serena Williams saying farewell to professional tennis is going to be a sad day, she has meant so much for the sport of tennis. Not just on the women’s side, but the men’s side as well,” Wilander told Eurosport.

“She has transcended the sport and taken tennis into living rooms and TVs that normally would not watch tennis. Serena Williams is considered the greatest female tennis player of all time, maybe the greatest player male or female.