Remember when Serena Williams eulogized Roger Federer in 2021, declaring herself his superfan? The tennis world was abuzz, not just because of the praise from one legend to another, but because of the humility and respect Serena showed for Federer despite being equally formidable. Their mutual admiration was a refreshing sight in a sport often characterized by fierce rivalries. Fast forward to today, even after both legends have bid adieu to the tennis courts, Serena’s admiration for Federer hasn’t waned.

The latest docuseries, titled ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams,’ captures Williams’s life and gives an intimate glimpse into her life. And with ESPN releasing yet another episode of the series, fans can now witness the former American player expressing her admiration for her Swiss ATP counterpart, Federer.

Speaking in the series, Williams revealed the strange connection she and Federer shared in terms of their careers. “My career was weirdly parallel with Roger Federer. He and I were the same age and I always looked up to Roger in a way. He always knew how to handle every single situation, and he always knew how to win. I would study his game and I would say, ‘How do I hit the ball early? How do I move like that?” Federer’s graceful movement was a secret to his success on the tennis courts.

The Swiss Maestro was known for taking small controlled steps to slow down before hitting. This used to put him in the best positions as he managed to dominate his opponents. Continuing further, Williams claimed Federer to be the best in the game and the impact he had on her. “I was so afraid to reach 30. I was like, oh, my goodness, my career is going to be over because I never thought I would play past 30. I really felt this weird unspoken connection to Roger that I can’t explain. I always thought if Roger could do it, I could do it.” Interestingly, Williams and Federer had a lot more in common.

The American star and the Swiss Maestro have dominated the WTA and ATP circuits respectively. While Williams clinched 23 titles in her career, Federer bagged 20. Besides both the players played remarkably on the grass with most of their victories coming from there. And to add to the spice, both the players retired in September of 2022. Meanwhile, this is not the first time when Williams expressed such sentiments for Federer.

In an interview in 2021, when both the players were still active, she had given similar sentiments. “He’s just a synopsis of greatness and class and amazing and really changed the game. You see players playing like him, moving like him, doing his techniques. The guy is (a) genius,” the American had said. But, as Williams cannot stop singing praise of the legendary player, Federer too was equally awed by Serena. 

How did Federer respond to Williams?

The tennis world has witnessed mesmerizing moments as Williams and Federer dominated the sport for decades. And as Williams cannot help praising his counterpart, Federer has also opened up about his admiration for the American legend. 

Speaking in the same docuseries, the Swiss maestro revealed the special bond he had with Williams. “I think with anybody, who played your sport, you have a bond, but even more so with somebody like Serena. We go way back. Played on the same courts. You won the same tournaments. You felt the same amount of pressure. I’ve spent hours and hours watching Serena play, of course, and admiring what she’s done as well.”

While tennis has evolved past their playing days, the camaraderie that they have continued to share even after retirement is indeed a spectacle to tennis fans, who eagerly await more such moments to follow.