Story highlights

World No. 1 surprises two tennis fans

Asks to play with them on public court

Posts footage on social media account

CNN  — 

Many tennis fans might wonder how they would fare playing against the world’s best.

Yet few expect to be challenged during a friendly match on a public court.

That’s exactly what happened in San Francisco on Sunday when 23-time time grand slam champion Serena Williams asked two unsuspecting recreational tennis players if she could share a court with them.

The exchange was captured and published on Williams’ Snapchat account.

“Just having a stroll at night and I’m thinking about asking these guys if I can hit with them just to see their reaction,” the world No. 1 can be heard saying as she approaches the court.

READ: Ball dogs are back

READ: Federer to play on until 2019

READ: Tennis star loses Twitter bet, takes fan on date

READ: Serena announces engagement

Understandably, the reaction was one of shock.

“Holy crap,” one of the men can be heard saying.

Williams was welcomed onto the court but, because she didn’t have tennis shoes with her, ended up playing in a pair of knee-high boots.

Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos

The moral of the story? “You never know when I could be coming to a tennis court near you,” Williams said.