IT WAS the most unlikely of holiday friendships.

Tennis legend Serena Williams posted an Instagram story of her holiday in the Maldives last year, initially focusing on husband Alexis Ohanian's attempts to DJ, before her phone captured someone very familiar to the football world.

It was none other than Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, fresh from his second Norm Smith and premiership medals, who was casually sipping a drink and hanging out with tennis royalty.

Fresh from a comfortable first-round win over Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open on Monday, Williams was reminded of just what town she was in when asked about her holiday with "Dusty".

While Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin is a regular in world No.1 and mad Tiger fan Ash Barty's player box, fans keen to catch a glimpse of the bullocking midfielder in Williams' entourage will be disappointed.

"It was just by chance. We met in Maldives. He just happened to be there. We just hung out. We had a blast," Williams said at her press conference.

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"We decided he couldn't come to the Australian Open because he would be mobbed way too much. So it was, like, if we could hang out, it would be cool. But definitely not in Melbourne Park or here. It would be way too crazy for him."

And even the queen of tennis knows just how much of a big deal the Tiger is in Melbourne.

"Yeah, for sure (Williams recognises his profile). That's why we were, like, not here. He can't do everyday things like that. He's way too recognisable. I think everyone would go nuts if they saw him," she said.

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"It would be really crazy for him. Yeah, it's cool. He's so good at his job, it's insane.

"It's so cool to get to know other athletes that are so good at their craft and almost just get to talk to them and see what makes them so good."