Roger Federer expressed his admiration for American tennis legend Serena Williams, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Wednesday. The Swiss tennis star stated that Serena’s achievements are enough to rightfully identify her as the greatest tennis player of all time. When Federer was asked to clarify if he means Williams is the best female player of all time or the best overall, he said “Overall”.

"But we know is all the way up there. I’m probably up there with somebody, somehow. Maybe there’s a group, a best of five – and if you’re in that group, you should be pleased and happy. Tennis is a funky sport when it comes to that stuff,” said a humble Federer.

“I’ve long given up that it needs to end in a fairy tale. I don’t need to be ranked or need it to be after a big title. If it happens that way, that’s amazing. But you can’t control it all. You have to put yourself out there, be vulnerable. I play because I love tennis, not because it needs to end .”