How did Roger Federer help Serena Williams reach the top of women’s tennis?

“It’s been fascinating to watch,” Federer said. “She had a totally different upbringing – I came up through Switzerland with the federation, she did it with her dad and her sister.

“It’s an amazing story unto itself—and then she became one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis player of all time.”

Asked if he meant on the women’s side or as a whole, Federer replied, “Overall.”

The Wall Street Journal publication said Federer then “ticks off the staggering stats of players like Williams and Steffi Graf, which eclipse those of anyone in men’s tennis, especially… factor[ing] in all of Serena’s doubles titles.”

But the article also describes Federer adding that it is a tricky subject, especially as players in previous eras did not always chase records the way today’s players have done.

“It’s not fair to compare, actually,” he said. “But we know [Serena] is all the way up there. I’m probably up there with somebody,” he said. “Maybe there’s a group, a best of five – and if you’re in that group, you should be pleased and happy.”

“I’m in full admiration of Serena. And Venus too, by the way,” he added.

Federer is next scheduled to compete at the grass-court event in Stuttgart.