“I think it will be Serena (Williams) for her successful career and for what she represents in the history of tennis,” Gabriela Sabatini said back in 2020, when asked which modern player she’d love to face. And rightly so! Serena, with 23-time Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals, carved out an unprecedented legacy in the sport. But as the clay court season approaches this year, Sabatini’s tune has slightly shifted. The two-time GS winner now finds herself backing current‌ World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, whose explosive form is turning heads. So what’s behind Sabatini’s change of heart? 

Gabriela Sabatini was a formidable presence on the tennis scene throughout the late 80s and early 90s, consistently knocking on the door of GS glory. The 1988 Olympic silver medalist reached four AO semifinals, five Roland-Garros semifinals between 1985 and 1994, and the Wimbledon final in 1991. Her crowning moment came in New York with a sensational US Open triumph in 1990, forever etching her name in tennis history! She attained a career-high world ranking of 3 in 1989 and received the prestigious honor of induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July 2006.

However, since retiring at just 26 because of a persistent stomach muscle injury, Sabatini has remained deeply connected to the sport. A regular face at major tournaments and exhibition matches, she recently made headlines again: not for her play, but for her shifting perspective. In an unexpected turn of events, Sabatini recently favored Aryna Sabalenka over Serena Williams when asked to name her top 5 tennis legends.

Yesterday, on April 5, 2025, , the official IG page of Roland-Garros treated fans to a charming video clip featuring two of Argentina’s greatest tennis icons: Gabriela Sabatini and Juan Martín del Potro. In the clip, Del Potro, the retired ATP powerhouse, playfully asked Sabatini to name her top 5 tennis legends.

Sabatini’s list sparked a wave of conversation as she placed Iga Swiatek at 5th, Margaret Court at 4th, and the elegant Justine Henin at 3rd. Then came the real surprise: Serena Williams, one of the most dominant players in tennis history, ranked 2nd. Taking the top spot? None other than the current top seed, Aryna Sabalenka. The post’s caption teased fans with intrigue: “Top 5 from @sabatinigaby! 👀🎾We made a surprise top 5 list of tennis players with the Argentine legend! 🇦🇷🔥 Well done @arynasabalenka for another win this year😅.”

No doubt, Sabalenka’s recent dominance has been undeniable. Only days ago, she won her maiden Miami Open title, beating Jessica Pegula in the final, but the comparison to Serena Williams invites a deeper look. Serena made her professional debut in 1995 at the tender age of just 14 and quickly carved her name into tennis history. By the time she was 26, she had already secured 8 GS singles titles and 6 GS doubles titles alongside sister Venus Williams. Over a 27-year career, Serena won a staggering 23 GS singles titles, including 3 Roland-Garros crowns, and also made her mark as an Olympic gold medalist. In contrast, Sabalenka, though a formidable force with already 3 GS titles, still has a steep mountain to climb.

While the tennis world is abuzz over Sabalenka’s recent dominance, Serena is enjoying the different glory of motherhood. Recently, the American icon shared a heartwarming glimpse into her life off the court, enjoying a delightful mommy-daughter moment through an iconic family activity.

Serena Williams shares heartwarming mommy-daughter moment with baby Adira in a cherished family activity

Serena Williams didn’t just dominate tennis, she redefined it with her fiery spirit, signature fist pumps, powerful roars, and even spontaneous dance breaks! Serena had unmatched dedication to whatever she did. Did you know she learnt French just to better connect with the Roland-Garros crowd?

However, now as a mother to Olympia and baby Adira, Serena’s world revolves around motherhood. Her legacy and influence continue to shine, especially at home. While Olympia dabbles in golf and creative crafts, little Adira is just beginning to discover her rhythm, often mimicking her legendary mom’s every move.

Recently, the 43-year-old gave fans a heart-melting glimpse into their lives, sharing an IG reel where she could be seen teaching Adira her iconic Come on celebration, captioning it, “(in French) Orange…yes! (in English) Come on! Yay, come on! (in French) Champion!” It was a sort of battle cry that once electrified tennis stadiums.

The mother-daughter duo was playing with a stacking toy, and as Adira placed the colored rings, the WTA icon excitedly cheered her on in both French and English. The sight of Adira mirroring her mother’s celebration chant was deeply nostalgic for fans, reminiscent of Serena’s extensive history of on-court success.

Serena’s legacy is now carried on-court by Arya Sabalenka, who plays a similar brand of fiery tennis, but will the Belarusian match the scale of success Serena achieved over her two-decade-long career? Share your thoughts in the comments below.