Maria Sharapova says she went “a full-circle moment” with Serena Williams after watching the American tennis legend play, compete against her, and then have her introduce her into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Although Sharapova and Williams are well-retired, they stole the headlines just before the start of the US Open. August 23rd was the date of the Russian tennis icon’s induction into the Hall of Fame. And there wasn’t anything surprising about it until the former five-time Grand Slam champion showed up to the ceremony alongside one of her biggest rivals – against whom she had quite a history.
“That was a full-circle moment. It started when I was a young girl watching her play with Venus, and just being so inspired by their strength and how amazing they were at their craft. Then facing Serena for so many years and now having her accepting and inducting me into the Hall of Fame,” Sharapova told Travel and Leisure magazine.
Williams issues a powerful statement on her fierce rivalry with Sharapova
Williams and Sharapova’s rivalry was never only on the court. For many years, it was an open secret that the two didn’t like each other as individuals. But after they retired from pro tennis, their tone started changing, and after they spoke briefly at the Met Gala a few years ago, they started being in touch. And all of that led to their relationship doing a complete turnaround.
“Maria and I were once the fiercest of rivals, we had our differences—to the world, we looked miles and miles apart. But the truth is, we weren’t. We wanted the exact same thing, at the exact time: to be the very best. That’s what made our rivalry so electric, and so iconic,” Williams said of her rivalry with Sharapova.
In Newport, Sharapova revealed that she reached out to Williams a couple of months ago with the Hall of Fame ceremony request, and that the American quickly agreed.
