Jackson fan Serena tells of 'shock'
Tennis star Serena Williams has described her "shock and horror" at the death of Michael Jackson.
The Wimbledon second seed, who knew the singer, said he was the "greatest entertainer of all time" and the "ultimate celebrity".
Williams, who lives in Florida, said: "He was a great guy, a complete icon, words can't express my shock and horror."
She added: "My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. It's just a terrible, terrible, terrible thing."
Williams, 27, was speaking after becoming the first woman to win through to the fourth round with a victory over Italy's Roberta Vinci. In a press conference dominated by questions about the death, Williams said she was in awe of the singer.
She said: "Everyone listens to his music. You think of the Beatles, you think of Elvis Presley and you think of Michael Jackson, those are just lifetime icons that I've never forgotten. The things that he did were beyond iconic."
Williams, whose favourite Jackson song is I Just Can't Stop Loving You, a ballad with Siedah Garrett, said she had been "honoured" to meet him on a few occasions.
"He has a great heart and wonderful kids. It's just really a shame. I've been following him. He's really not been well from what I read so I wasn't super shocked but, I mean, it's Michael Jackson, the greatest entertainer for me of all time.
"He did things no one else did. Thriller is still the best video ever made, still to this day. The videos that he did for his songs, no one had ever even gone that far. And he started a whole new trend with that, dances, singing, beats, everything.
"Everyone of every colour, every nation, every race is Michael Jackson fans. Even though I met him, knew him, if I saw him on the streets I still would have been like 'Aaaah!'. He is just iconic on all levels. He was definitely the ultimate celebrity. Any celebrity who met Michael Jackson was completely in awe, I know I was."
