"I never liked playing Serena" - When Monica Seles was driven into doubting her status as World No. 1 by a teenage Serena Williams

Serena Williams has been one of the most prominent figures in tennis history and has received tons of appreciation from fans, critics, and even her opponents. Monica Seles is one such opponent who showered effusive praise on Williams for her qualities both on and off the court.

Seles was a dominant player during the 1990s and early 2000s. She officially retired from the sport back in 2008.

During the 2016 US Open, Seles caught up with The Street and reminisced about her illustrious career. Over the course of the conversation, she was asked how she approached Serena Williams back in her days.

Seles confessed that the 23-time Grand Slam champion was one of the toughest opponents of her career and that she never liked playing against her.

"I never liked playing Serena. I played her when I think she was 16 years old, her first tournament. I remember calling my agent saying 'I'm in trouble. I won't be number one much longer'," Seles stated.

Seles believes that Williams is a 'true champion' and that the American is more than what she displays on the court.

"Serena (Williams) is just really a true champion both on and off the court, I mean, when you compete against her, she's a tough competitor, but off court she's just a really wonderful person," she asserted.

---

A look at the head-to-head record between Serena Williams and Monica Seles

Victoria Azarenka (L), Monica Seles, and Serena Williams (R) at the 2013 US Open

Serena Williams and Monica Seles are two of the most successful players in WTA history. The two met each other on five occasions during their playing days, and Seles could emerge victorious only once.

They crossed each other's paths for the first time in 1997, at the Chicago Open. Williams, then just 16 years old, drubbed the experienced Seles in three sets (4-6, 6-1, 6-1).

She went on to defeat the nine-time Grand Slam champion twice in 1999. Williams recorded a comprehensive straight-sets win (6-2, 6-3) in the second round of the Miami Masters and then fought from a set down (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) to emerge victorious in the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Seles registered her only win against Williams in the quarterfinals of the 2001 Los Angeles Open. Later that year, the two players locked horns for the last time - in the semifinals of the Canadian Masters - where eventual champion Williams won 7-5, 7-6(5).