Players react to Muhammad Ali's passing

Ali's fellow athletes learned a lot from the legend.

Published Jun 08, 2016

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, nee Cassius Clay, died over the weekend at age 74 due to septic shock. He dealt openly with Parkinson's disease for many years, becoming not just a sporting icon but an international peace advocate and more. Below is a sampling of social media posts from the professional tennis world. Ali's fellow sportspersons, like all of us, stood to learn a lot from his example and legacy.

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The last African-American man to reach a major tournament final, at Wimbledon in 1996, MaliVai Washington was among those who offered remembrances and tributes:

Our paths never crossed face to face but @MuhammadAli made the opening ceremony @ #96Olympics so special and memorable for me. RIP
— MaliVai Washington (@malwashington) June 4, 2016

Then there was that time when The Greatest and Bjorn Borg "collided."

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The Greatest! (qui con Bjorn Borg fresco vincitore del quarto Wimbledon consecutivo nel 1979) #MuhammadAli #tennis pic.twitter.com/ur33eRiCTZ
— SuperTennis TV (@SuperTennisTv) June 4, 2016

More professionals from the ATP and WTA tours, active and retired—including some of tennis' own legends—shared their thoughts as news of Ali's passing circulated worldwide:

Thinking of #MuhammadAli and remembering a man who was not afraid to take a stand and who was committed to being his authentic self.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 4, 2016

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View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

RIP Champ-- you will always "float like a butterfly"!
— Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) June 4, 2016

"Float like a butterfly/sting like a bee "
A GIANT among men #RIPALI
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) June 4, 2016

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My thoughts and prayers R with @TheRealLailaAli and the entire #AliFamily The #OriginalGOAT left us with amazing memories #RIPAli #FLABSLAB
— Katrina Adams 🦋 (@katadams68) June 4, 2016

The Greatest pic.twitter.com/kvUGqXkaw8
— Fabio Fognini (@fabiofogna) June 4, 2016

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To the GREATEST OF ALL TIME...Thanks for giving every kid a Chance to DREAM...I BELIEVE CAUSE OF YOU... #RIPAli
— Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) June 4, 2016

An inspiration. A legend. Forever a champion. RIP Muhammad Ali. 😢 pic.twitter.com/2TAlKmAOM8
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) June 4, 2016

#MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #TheLegend. A Mark of Respect!
— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) June 4, 2016

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Thank you for inspiration, motivation & legendary quotes. RIP #MuhammadAli you influenced so many great athletes! Never another like you!
— Shelby Rogers (@Shelby_Rogers_) June 4, 2016

Rip Muhammad Ali😥🙌The https://t.co/kzzeA7Uow1 in peace. pic.twitter.com/046DAk18J5
— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) June 4, 2016

Really really sad news about the passing away of Muhammad Ali, Absolute legend. #RIPMuhammadAli
— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) June 4, 2016

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'Don't count the days, make the days count' - RIP 🙏🏽 #MuhammadAli
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) June 4, 2016

RIP Muhammad Ali 😞😞 greatest sportsman ever .. You will be missed ..
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 4, 2016

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You showed us how, you've led the way . Impossible is just temporary. Thank you #TheGreatest for your life! You changed this world forever.
— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) June 4, 2016

Sad evening here in Phoenix as @MuhammadAli passed away. What a great man in and out of the ring, raised over $100million for charity!
— Bethanie MattekSands (@matteksands) June 4, 2016

Not much to be said here, never stopped empowering. https://t.co/vVyShoxjRj
— Noah Rubin (@Noahrubin33) June 4, 2016

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As Noah Rubin notes, sometimes words fail. But actions speak louder, and as raucous as Muhammad Ali's life was, inside and outside of the ring, he let his actions do most of the talking. That's more than commendable. That's eternal.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.

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