 "Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova share a smile during the hall of fame ceremony. Image: Reuters")
A heartfelt moment transpired between former rivals Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova during Saturday’s International Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Newport.
The evening was dedicated to celebrating Sharapova’s remarkable achievements as she was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame. In an unexpected turn of events, it was Serena Williams who was chosen to introduce her former adversary. The 23-time Grand Slam champion delivered a gracious introductory speech honouring the 5-time Grand Slam winner.
Sharapova on Serena introducing her
Reacting to Serena’s introductory speech, Sharapova thanked Williams for the impact she had on her career. She also addressed the on-court tensions between the two, and defined it as typical behaviour that comes out when both opponents know what the other one is capable of and both hate losing.
“It’s a gift to have someone who motivates you to reach those heights. And I’ll forever be grateful for bringing out the best in me.”
“We both knew no other way than to fight our hearts out. … We both hated to lose more than anything on this earth, and we both knew that the other was the biggest obstacle between ourselves and the trophy.”
Meanwhile, Williams also acknowledged the impact Sharapova has had beyond the court. “She showed us all how to take excellence on the court and turn it into excellence in business, and fashion, branding and everything that she touched,” she said at the event.
“She changed how women not only approached tennis, but sports and opportunity. She showed us that you can be fierce on the court and strategic off the court, and unapologetically herself the entire time,” she added.
About her rivalry with Sharapova
Given the on-court battles these two formidable legends of the game had, not many would have expected Serena to be at the event, and she herself admitted that a few years ago she would have shared the same opinion. However, she made it known that both she and Maria have come a long way and their once frosty relationship has mellowed, and now they have utmost respect for each other.
“Let’s be real, 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 same time, to be the very best. In our sport only one person walks away with the trophy and what’s really wrong with wanting to be the best? Nothing."
Sharapova and Williams faced each other 22 times during their careers, with Serena dominating their rivalry. The American legend held a commanding 20-2 advantage over the Russian.