Tennis sensation Naomi Osaka has lauded the legendary Serena Williams for her contribution to the game. Williams has won 23 slam titles in her glorious career and she has definitely inspired a lot of Tennis players, both male as well as female. Noami Osaka is one of those players who has been motivated by the all-time great and stated Williams has literally built champions.
Serena Williams has ticked the right boxes in her career and she has definitely inspired a lot of young players. Williams is well known to give her 120% on the court and she has had an unbelievable career.
“If I were to retire from tennis, I would want people to remember me with how I acted towards people and like how I interacted,” she told HBO’s The Shop.
“Serena. Her legacy is more than her being Serena. I started playing because of her. I’m sure there are so many other girls that started playing because of her, so she literally built champions. “And I think passing it down is how the newer generations get inspired.”
On the other hand, it has been a while since Serena won her 23rd slam title and she has been trying to level with Magaret Court’s record of 24 majors. Serena’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou heaped praise on her ward and said she changed the sport and also brought business to Women’s Tennis.
“She changed tennis,” he told AFP. “She brought an athletic dimension that there was not there at all, she opened the doors, with her sister Venus, to a whole generation of players because it was a white sport.
“She invented tennis intimidation because she has a presence that makes others fear her. For a very long time, it was impressive. “She also brought the business to women’s tennis.
“Before her, the business was very small and with her it became huge because she has such an aura, she has become such a marketing object, too, that huge contracts are possible for the players.”
The former World no.1 was last seen in action on the court in the first round of Wimbledon but she had to pull out after she slipped and injured herself.