Roger Federer named his four favourite WTA players back in 2021, here is where they all are now

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Roger Federer has left an indelible mark on tennis, with the Swiss legend respected across both the ATP and WTA tours.

Mirra Andreeva has been motivated by Federer, with the former having just won back-to-back titles at the Dubai Tennis Championships and Indian Wells.

The teenager has risen to sixth in the WTA Tour rankings thanks to that success, with Miami Open glory now in her sights.

Both the ATP and WTA tours are currently in Miami for the 1000-level events, where Jannik Sinner and Danielle Collins are the respective defending champions.

Collins has started off with a win this time around, while Sinner is absent after being handed a three-month doping ban.

Roger Federer once named Serena Williams among his favourite WTA Tour players

But a long list of star names are taking part in the event, including two women who Federer named among his favourites back in 2021.

When answering questions for the ATP Tour back then, the Swiss legend was asked for his favourite WTA Tour players, and responded: “Belinda [Bencic], obviously. She is my best friend on the women’s tour having played all the Hopman Cups with her.

READ MORE: The match involving Roger Federer that Nick Kyrgios says is his ‘favourite match of all time’

“And then of course there are some exceptional players at the top like [Naomi] Osaka and [Ashleigh] Barty and we are not going to forget about Serena [Williams] either, she is the queen so all good there!”

All four either were or still very much are iconic players in their own right, but where are the foursome now?

Belinda Bencic – WTA no. 45

Like Federer, Bencic hails from Switzerland, and right now is enjoying somewhat of a career revival, which is ongoing in Miami.

The former world number four has just climbed 13 places in the world rankings to 45th, having clinched her ninth tour-level title at the Abu Dhabi Open last month.

She beat top seed Elena Rybakina en route to the trophy, and followed that up by knocking Coco Gauff out of Indian Wells earlier this month.

Naomi Osaka – WTA no. 61

Naomi Osaka is another competing in the Miami Open, where she is enjoying her best form for quite some time.

The former world number one has stormed into the third round of the WTA 1000 event, as she continues to truly find her feet after various injury issues and giving birth.

READ MORE: Naomi Osaka says what she could do in her first round match at the Miami Open which she hasn’t been able to for a long time

A four-time Grand Slam champion and seven-time WTA winner overall, Osaka currently occupies 61st place in the world rankings.

Ashleigh Barty – Retired

Ashleigh Barty raised plenty of eyebrows when she called time on her glittering career in 2022, aged just 25.

The decision came just two months after the 15-time WTA champion lifted the Australian Open trophy, and significantly when she was top of the world rankings.

Also a hugely talented golfer and cricketer, the Australian remains active on the tennis scene, but has also turned to publishing, having helped produce a series of illustrated children’s books.

Serena Williams – Retired

Like Barty, Williams also called time on her multi-Grand Slam-winning career in 2022, albeit with a few more titles under her belt.

The American sits behind only Margaret Court (24) for overall Grand Slam women’s singles titles with 23, but is out on her own in the Open Era.

As well as being a mother, the former world number one is an entrepreneur, with her business ventures including an investor role in TMRW Golf League (TGL) side Los Angeles Golf Club.