World number one Iga Świątek has shared a heartwarming photo with tennis legend Serena Williams.Both Świątek and Williams are preparing to compete at the US Open, which gets underway at Flushing Meadows today.It is expected to be Williams’s last tournament, with the 23-time Grand Slam winner announcing earlier this month that she was “evolving away from tennis”.The tributes have been pouring in since Williams made the announcement, and Świątek has joined in with the plaudits.“🤩 So…this is the highlight of my day,” Świątek posted on Twitter, alongside a photo with Williams.“Congratulations on your amazing journey and legendary career @serenawilliams. Huge respect for everything that you have done for our sport.”Świątek previously admitted she was too shy to speak to Williams, and even questioned if the sporting icon knew who she was.

“The thing is that I have a hard-time catching eye contact with Serena,” Świątek said earlier this month.

“I wanted to say ‘hi’ a few times but it’s tough because she always has so many people around her and I’m pretty shy.

“When I look at her, I suddenly forget that I’m here as the world number one. I see Serena and it’s like ‘WOW, Serena,’ you know?

“And I feel like I’m a kid from kindergarten looking at her. So it’s tough. I haven’t talked to her but I’m just trying to say ‘hi.’”

Świątek was then asked if she thought Williams knew who she was, to which she replied: “I don’t know.”

It seems the pair have finally had a chance to meet, and Williams would certainly have known who ÅšwiÄ…tek was.

The 21-year-old was in scintillating form in the first half of 2022, clinching the world number one spot while on a 37-match winning streak.

She has not been as formidable in recent weeks, but she is still one of the best tennis players on the WTA Tour right now.

Świątek is set to play Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the first round of the US Open tomorrow, while Serena Williams will come up against Danka Kovinić of Montenegro.