Serena Williams has earned a prestigious title without striking a shot.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion was overwhelmingly selected as the most challenging woman opponent by several ATP players.
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In its feature The Face of Tennis, Gio Journal asked ATP standouts if they could face any woman player, past or present, who would the most challenging opponent they'd like to face?
Here are some of the responses male players gave Gio Journal:
Stan Wawrinka: "Well, for sure, it’s Serena Williams. I think it would be a great challenge to play against her. She has an amazing game, she’s been playing so many years, so much experience. She has a powerful game, serving big, returning big, so it will be a nice challenge to play against her."
Felix Auger-Aliassime: "Serena Williams. She’s the closest to beating the guys, so I think she’d be very challenging."
Mike Bryan: "Serena Williams would be the toughest to play, because of her serve. She has pinpoint accuracy but can deliver a lot of heat on it too. She backs that up with powerful athletic movement and punishing ground strokes. Her intense competitive nature would also make her a very feisty opponent."
Matteo Berrettini: "I think Serena. She serves well and she plays aggressive."
Pablo Carreno Busta: "Probably the most challenging to play would be Serena Williams. She is the best player of my time and probably the best player ever."
Borna Coric: "Serena Williams. I have never played with her, but she seems like she hits the ball strongest."
Taylor Fritz: "Probably Serena. Definitely Serena. Just because she has the most power and she’s also the greatest of all time."
Karen Khachanov: "Of course, Serena. She is at an unbelievable level. I would also say Chrissie Evert."
Denis Kudla: "I would like to play Serena, because I think she is the greatest of all time and I would love to see how that goes."
Feliciano Lopez: "Maybe Serena because she has a great serve."
Andreas Seppi: "Serena Williams. I have never played with her, but she seems like she hits the ball strongest."
Diego Schwartzman: "The Williams sisters. Both, because they are really, really strong."
Gilles Simon: "I would say Serena, because she’s just the best player."
Mischa Zverev: "I would say either Steffi Graf or Serena Williams. Obviously, Serena, because she has a big game and she can serve big. She has good ground strokes. And I have always felt inspired by Steffi. You know, she had this determination, great backhand slice and I feel like she was an incredible fighter, very disciplined on the court."
Interestingly, two men who have played with or against Serena—Grigor Dimitrov, who has hit with Serena several times, and Frances Tiafoe, who partnered Williams at Hopman Cup in January—each selected Steffi Graf though Tiafoe also cited Serena.
Dimitrov, who is coached by Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf's husband, chose the German legend because of her variety and forehand.
"Steffi Graf, the way she possesses pretty much everything," Dimitrov said. "But that slice, I think, would rattle you a little bit. And her movement to explore the court and hit that forehand!"
Nikoloz Basilashvili selected Grand Slam doubles champion Anna Kournikova telling the publication: "I would play Anna Kournikova. I would play her, for sure."
Tomas Berdych shared his story of squaring off against the young Martina Hingis.
"Look, my story is, when I was 13, I practiced with Martina Hingis, who was number No. 1 in the world at the time," Berdych said. "Although I won 6-3 to 6-4, she went on to win [the] Australian Open that year."
Photo credit: Audemars Piguet