Indian tennis legend, Leander Paes’ long tryst with professional tennis might be over. But as he reflects on tennis’ greatest legends over the recent decades – from Serena Williams to Martina Navratilova – one thing is clear. No matter what, tennis remains the core of his heart. Recently, Paes brought up one of tennis’ most famous success stories – and revealed who makes his GOAT list.

Paes has now settled into his new roles with new missions. But having charted a storied three-decade career, his perspective on sport and tennis is unparalleled. Thus, in a recent interview, he candidly made some interesting revelations to readers and fans worldwide!

Paes reflects on the humanity of tennis as he discusses Serena Williams

Throughout the incisive interview with The Week, Leander Paes’s central focus remained on sports transforming human beings and vice versa. Highlighting the “mammoth amount of mental and emotional courage” that individual sports require, Paes considered tennis a lonely profession to be in, compared with team sports. However, he brought up one story that has inspired him immensely—Serena Williams’ meteoric career arc.

Taking the example of the Williams sisters, Paes admiringly said: “The Serena Williams story is not just about an African-American girl making it great in a sport like tennis. It’s not just about the millions of dollars she won; or how many Grand Slams she won―23, if I’m not mistaken. Or the Olympics that she had won.”

Serena’s story showcases the essence of what the sporting world stands for. She grew up in Compton, a city with one of the highest crime rates in America. Her practice court would be littered with bullet shells and syringes. Even then, her father coached her and her sister Venus Williams by reading a book! Thus, knowing the remarkable resilience and sincerity underlying her success, Paes found it impossible not to hail her as the G.O.A.T. of women’s tennis. But his list also had another legendary figure!

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Paes’s G.O.A.T. list features another legendary name

Throughout the interview, Paes spoke of his ranging influences from Nelson Mandela to Muhammad Ali. But in the tennis world, the Williams sisters stand for something much more important. He elaborated, “But they redefined the world using tennis as the vehicle. They taught young girls―not just African-American girls―that as a woman, you, too, can be a champion in the world. It’s not just about the men.”

However, Paes also made another admission. In the same spirit of redefining the world and breaking away from shackles, he always considered Martina Navratilova as the G.O.A.T. of women’s tennis. Blowing up a long debate that is usually restricted by statistics and the superlative of ‘greatest’, Paes’ perspective is a unique—and refreshing—one. Can we say the same for men’s tennis too? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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