Social reaction: Tennis players mourn Muhammad Ali

ByESPN.COM
June 4, 2016, 11:16 AM

— -- Perhaps the greatest icon sports has ever known, Muhammad Ali died Friday, sending shockwaves throughout the world. 

Tennis players, like so many other athletes, paid tribute to the legend. 

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

RIP Muhammad Ali...we will miss your spirit and humanity. You were shunned,excoriated and jailed for the same reason that made you a hero...

- Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 4, 2016

'Don't count the days, make the days count' - RIP ???? #MuhammadAli

- Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) June 4, 2016

#MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #TheLegend. A Mark of Respect!

- Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) June 4, 2016

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a... https://t.co/U6osvfAN4c

- Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) June 4, 2016

Moments before the women's final & thinking about Muhammad Ali, something tells me the greatest will appear in the form of Serena again 2day

- rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) June 4, 2016

The Greatest pic.twitter.com/kvUGqXkaw8

- Fabio Fognini (@fabiofogna) June 4, 2016

Let's start 2016 again ?? #toomanygreatonesleftus

- Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic) June 4, 2016

#Legend #MuhammedAli #RestInPeace pic.twitter.com/pm9hWI6URq

- Sara Errani (@SaraErrani) June 4, 2016

"Float like a butterfly/sting like a bee "
A GIANT among men #RIPALI

- Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) June 4, 2016

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

To the GREATEST OF ALL TIME...Thanks for giving every kid a Chance to DREAM...I BELIEVE CAUSE OF YOU... #RIPAli

- Leander Paes (@Leander) June 4, 2016

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

Rest in Peace Legend ? float like a butterfly.... https://t.co/95JRDEfdIA

- Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) June 4, 2016

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

An inspiration. A legend. Forever a champion. RIP Muhammad Ali. ?? pic.twitter.com/2TAlKmAOM8

- Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) June 4, 2016

RIP Champ-- you will always "float like a butterfly"!

- Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) June 4, 2016

Really really sad news about the passing away of Muhammad Ali, Absolute legend. #RIPMuhammadAli

- Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) June 4, 2016

Rip Muhammad Ali????The https://t.co/kzzeA7Uow1 in peace. pic.twitter.com/046DAk18J5

- Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) June 4, 2016

Champions are made from sth they have deep inside them- a desire, a dream, a vision...But the will must be stronger than the skill #RIPChamp

- Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) June 4, 2016

#RIPMuhammadAli ???? pic.twitter.com/jQeF8qVDbI

- GC (@guillecoria) June 4, 2016

RIP ???? #thegreatestever #muhammadali #rip https://t.co/O3b92TMuUl

- Dinara Safina (@Dinarik27) June 4, 2016

'Don't count the days, make the days count ' #TheGreatest..Respect forever.. inspiration forever for all times

- Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) June 4, 2016

#Ali ?? #TheGreatest pic.twitter.com/gT9HvrcD9u

- Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) June 4, 2016

?????? https://t.co/ziDQTU0L9r

- Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) June 4, 2016

Rest in peace, legend. #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/n0OOOHMIrF

- Nicole Gibbs (@Gibbsyyyy) June 4, 2016

#TheGreatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/hvXsnoIjqG

- Jurgen Melzer (@jojomelzer) June 4, 2016

He is the greatest example! RIP ... https://t.co/sKKVm2EPsI

- Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) June 4, 2016

The greatest... RIP pic.twitter.com/K6R7Bt8e3Q

- Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) 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 (@BMATTEK) June 4, 2016

Rest in peace, champ #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/OTdKteb7Bn

- Irina Falconi (@IrinaFalconi) June 4, 2016

RIP Muhammad Ali ..... Float like a butterfly...you will 'ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST"!

- rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) June 4, 2016

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

","publishedDate":"2016-06-04T15:16:49Z","contributors":[{"name":"ESPN.COM","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2016-06-04T15:56:48Z","section":"Sports","wordCount":1132,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"image","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":null,"dateline":"—","seo":{},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:sports:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Sports/social-reaction-tennis-players-mourn-muhammad-ali/story?id=39609231","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"0","alertTag":"none","authors":"ESPN.COM","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"—","id":"39609231","modDate":"2016-06-04","mediaOnPage":"none","modTime":"11:56","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2016-06-04","pubTime":"11:16","section":"Sports","subBrand":"none","title":"Social reaction: Tennis players mourn Muhammad Ali","videoId":"none","videoName":"none","wordCount":1132},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Sports/social-reaction-tennis-players-mourn-muhammad-ali/story?id=39609231","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Sports/social-reaction-tennis-players-mourn-muhammad-ali/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"0","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};