Federer: Serena “on her way” to being the GOAT

In an interview with Sport 360 in Dubai, Roger Federer has tipped his hat to fellow veteran and all-time great Serena Williams.

Federer, reflecting on his 18th major title at the Australian Open, discussed Serena’s feat of winning a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy at the same event.

“I admire everything she’s doing and has done,” the Swiss said.

“Also I’m surprised she’s still actually playing. I thought she was ready to check out there for a while. But she’s hung on and she’s found new ways of doing things. She’s gotten healthy again as well, she was very unfortunate on a few occasions.

“I see it more – and Serena belongs to that group – with just a lot of those older athletes who are able to do it again and again and again.

“I was doing an interview in Prague the other day about Jaromír Jágr, who’s 45 and said he wants to play till 50. I remember him when I was growing up and I was following hockey, he was already a superstar.

“So a guy like him, or Gigi Buffon, or Valentino Rossi, or others who… I’m sure I’ve forgotten a ton now, but people who have done it for a long time and who are older now but are still super eager and super willing and Serena is exactly like that.

“She’s a fierce competitor and on the way to becoming the greatest of all time. It’s wonderful to see her do it for sure.”

Federer, in the Middle East for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, won his first-round match against Benoit Paire in straight sets on Monday.

The third seed next faces the winner of the match between Russians Mikhail Youzhny and Evgeny Donskoy.