Gauff and Raducanu laud Serena's inspirational tennis career

American legend has announced plans to retire from the sport

American tennis great Serena Williams has announced that the countdown to her retirement had begun. AFP

Serena Williams has hinted at retiring after the US Open, which starts this month. AFP

Serena Williams poses with her trophy after defeating Russia's Maria Sharapova in the 2013 French Open final. AP

FILE - Serena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday, July 11, 2015. Williams won 6-4, 6-4. Serena Williams says she is ready to step away from tennis after winning 23 Grand Slam titles, turning her focus to having another child and her business interests. “I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” Williams wrote in an essay released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by Vogue magazine. (AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Serena Williams rests between games during her match against Lucie Safarova at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2007. Reuters

Serena Williams after defeating Victoria Azarenka at the 2012 US Open final. AP

Serena Williams holds her trophy after defeating her sister Venus in the women's singles final of the 2017 Australian Open. AP

Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams to win the 2009 Wimbledon title. AFP

Serena Williams will retire as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, male or female. AFP

Teen stars Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu hailed Serena Williams as an inspiration and a game-changing tennis legend after the 23-time Grand Slam champion revealed impending retirement plans.

World number 11 Gauff, inspired to play tennis by Williams, said she was shocked to hear her say the "countdown has begun" to departure for an icon who can motivate another generation of superstars.

"The legacy that she has left through her tennis career is something that I don't think any other player can probably touch," Gauff said. "It is something that can inspire many more generations.

"I grew up watching her - that's the reason why I play tennis."

Williams became an African American icon the sport just as Gauff is starting to do with two titles at age 19, and Gauff reminded fans that Williams is far from fading away even if her days in competitive tennis are nearing an end at age 40.

"I mean, she's not dead but people are talking about it like she's dying," Gauff said. "She's just moving onto different things."

Gauff spoke after reaching the second round of the WTA Toronto Masters with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over compatriot Madison Brengle.

Reigning US Open champion Raducanu admired how the speed, power and determination of Williams changed tennis.

"She definitely changed the game," Raducanu said. "To dominate that much, there has not really been someone who has dominated like her in the women's game. She did change the game a lot in that respect."

The 19-year-old British star also marvelled at how long Williams has remained a force in the sport from her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open to her most recent at the 2017 Australian Open, followed by trips to the US Open and Wimbledon finals in 2018 and 2019.

"It's incredible her career. She has achieved so much," Raducanu said. "And to see her around in this US swing is really inspiring. She keeps playing because she obviously loves the game.

"That longevity of a career is something that a lot of the players, me especially, aspire to achieve."