Williams won a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, and a further 14 in doubles with her sister Venus.

She enjoyed several legendary rivalries during her time on tour, none more famous than Williams’ battles with Maria Sharapova.

The American retired from the sport upon the conclusion of the 2022 US Open, having enjoyed perhaps the most legendary career in the history of women’s tennis.

A legendary career, that was inspired by several of the biggest legends the sport has ever seen.

Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf were two of Serena Williams’ favorite players to watch when she was younger

Speaking in a press conference during the 2017 Australian Open, Williams was asked who her favorite players to watch were when she was growing up.

“I used to love watching Monica Seles and I loved watching Steffi [Graf],” she said.

“I also loved Pete, I wanted to serve like Pete Sampras.

“That was kind of my thing.”

Williams went on to add another name to her list of favorites, that some may not expect.

“I just liked so many different players,” she said.

“I remember when Zina Garrison got to the finals of Wimbledon, that was so amazing.

“I loved watching her play whenever I got that opportunity.

“Yeah, I really loved watching so many people.”

Zina Garrison: The woman who beat Monica Seles and Steffi Graf reach the Wimbledon final

Williams loved watching her during her younger years, but many fans of the sport may not have heard of Garrison, who was herself a legend in tennis.

Garrison battled through adversity during her younger years, losing her mother as a 19-year-old, and beginning a fight with Bulimia.

She was prepared to not let this stop her, however, as she broke through on the tour in 1982, winning the WTA Newcomer of the Year award, having reached the quarter finals of the French Open.

Garrison remarkably skipped her high school graduation in order to compete at Roland Garros back in 1982, as she reached the last eight as a teenager.

The American reached a career-high of fourth in the world and won an impressive 14 WTA titles, but arguably her best performance came at SW19 in 1990.

Having been knocked out of the tournament in the second round the year prior, the number five seed wasn’t exactly a big favorite for the Wimbledon title in 1990.

She advanced to the quarter-finals without a hitch, however, as she set up a mouth-watering tie with French Open champion Monica Seles.

It was against Seles that Garrison dropped her first set of the tournament as she trailed 6-3, and found herself just a set away from defeat.

She battled back, taking the second set 6-3, before winning a marathon decider 9-7, to advance to the last four at Wimbledon for the first since 1985.

Things weren’t going to get any easier, as in the last four she faced a stern test against world number one Graf.

This time Garrison took the first set, before the German levelled things up taking it to a decider for a place in the final.

The American star pulled through, as she ended Graf’s record-streak of 13 straight Grand Slam final appearances.

She had beaten two of the best players on the WTA Tour, but a third awaited in the final, as Garrison looked to win a Major title for the first time in her career.

Martina Navratilova awaited in the final, 17 times a Major singles champion, who was competing in the showpiece match at SW19 for the ninth consecutive year.

It was here that Garrison’s legendary run came to an end, as she lost 6-4, 6-1, to the Czech-American star, in her only Grand Slam final appearance.

Poetically it was Navratilova’s final Slam triumph in the singles, as she lifted the Wimbledon title aloft for a ninth time.

Garrison’s finest performance was one that will be remembered for years to come, and no doubt helped inspire Williams to her best days on Centre Court.

From 1982 to 1995 Garrison remained a staple of the world’s top 25, not once falling out, before retiring from tennis in 1996.

A legend of the sport, and a favorite to watch for many, including one of the greatest athletes of all time.

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