Roger Federer and Serena Williams are arguably the most important names in tennis the last few decades. The respect the latter has for the former, though, is really admirable.

Prior to Federer's second-round matchup that's “all about the grandkids” or whatever his opponent was muttering in general excitement about facing the all-time great, Williams also hurled some praise on the star.

“I think two words sum it up: Roger Federer,” Serena Williams, who turns 40 in September, told reporters at the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma. “He's just a synopsis of greatness and class and amazing and really changed the game. You see players playing like him, moving like him, doing his techniques. The guy is (a) genius.”

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On Tuesday, Roger Federer is facing Pablo Andujar in the second round of the Gonet Geneva Open. Like Williams, his opponent is excited to be next to the superstar.

In her own right, Serena Williams is such a special talent that her stardom often transcends the sport.

Nonetheless, it's nice to see one GOAT talking about another in a positive way. This doesn't happen as much in other sports, especially the team variety, where individual athletes are often unwilling to give love to someone else.