Serena Williams says she didn't realise Ash Barty had risen to number one spot in the WTA rankings, but had nothing but praise for the Aussie.
Williams, now ranked 11th in the world, only discovered Barty had overtaken Naomi Osaka as the WTA's top player when she was told at her pre-Wimbledon press conference over the weekend.
The feat continues Barty's incredible rise, after the 23-year-old won her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
Despite not knowing she was the top seed heading into Wimbledon, Williams had nothing but praise for Barty.
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"I think Ash - I don't know anyone that has anything negative to say about her," the 32-time Grand Slam champion said.
"She's like the sweetest, cutest girl on tour. She's so nice.
"Obviously I'm happy for her. Yeah, it's good. It's good for her."
Williams said Barty's even-keeled temperament meant she should be a threat for years to come.
"She has a great game. I think she's really even-tempered," Williams said.
"She's just really chill. I feel like she's just so relaxed in a way.
"She's had a solid year, as well. It's not just the French Open. I believe she won Miami. She's had a really good year."
Barty followed up her French Open success with victory on grass at Eastbourne - a result that saw her leapfrog Osaka in the rankings.
Despite the increased attention from home and around the world, Barty says she won't let the added pressure get to her.
"Something that I've never experienced before," she said.
"It hasn't really changed much, to be honest. We're still trying to go about all of our business, all of our preparations the same way.
"We know what we've been doing has been working. It's about trying to keep that normality as much as possible.
"There's more attention - there's more of that outside noise.
"But from what we're trying to do on the court, it hasn't changed much.
"We'll just keep trying to grow and be better every single day."
Barty begins her Wimbledon campaign against world number 43 Zheng Saisai, with 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza waiting in the third round.
Williams is a potential quarter-final opponent for Barty, with Petra Kvitova also on the same side of the draw.