Serena Williams had high praise for one area of this multiple-time Grand Slam champion’s game in particular.
Williams is often called the best server in WTA history, with that being one of the many weapons in the American’s game.
The serve, alongside her raw power and clinical net play, enabled Williams to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles in her career.
However, after winning the Miami Open in 2008, Williams claimed that there was another WTA player who had the greatest footwork of all time.
Serena Williams said Steffi Graf had the greatest footwork of all time
Williams was coming into the 2008 Miami Open as the defending champion, and she made an impressive start after winning her first match in emphatic fashion.
Due to the nature of the match being so one-sided, Williams was asked many different questions in her post-match press conference, including about the influence 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf had on her.
Graf won the Miami Open five times in her career, with the German retiring from tennis in 1999 as one of the most decorated tennis players of all time.
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Williams was full of praise for Graf, and particularly focussed on her footwork as the greatest she has ever seen.
“I mean, Steffi Graf, what could – I mean, when I played her it was just like a dream come true,” said Williams. “She was, hands down, one of the greatest players. One of the few players to win a Golden Slam: All the Grand Slams and the Olympics.
“Yeah, you know, when I think of Steffi Graf, I just think of the greatest. She had the greatest footwork ever. She was so focused all the time. She was a great player, you know, both on and off the court that I had a chance to experience, and it was just an amazing experience. She was just awesome.”
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What happened when Serena Williams played Steffi Graf?
Although there was only a short period where their careers overlapped, Williams actually played Graf twice.
Both of these matches came in 1999, the year that Graf retired, and they both won one match apiece.
Graf won a very close three setter against Williams in Sydney, but perhaps their more memorable meeting came a couple of months later.
Williams would beat Graf in the final of Indian Wells in 1999, which enabled her to win her first ever WTA 1000 singles title.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 1999 | Sydney International (2R) | Graf beat Williams, 6-2 3-6 7-5 |
| 1999 | Indian Wells (F) | Williams beat Graf, 3-6 6-3 7-5 |
They have since been part of the same exhibition events, but their Indian Wells final was their final ever professional meeting.
Although both players are now officially retired, there have been some heavy rumours of Williams returning to tennis in 2026.
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