Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova had one of tennis’ fiercest rivalries before the Russian retired in 2020 – and the American cannot stop thinking about her
Tennis icon Serena Williams still reflects on her old adversary Maria Sharapova, who retired from the sport in 2020 at the age of 32 due to injury-related performance issues. The two athletes faced off 22 times, with Williams triumphing in 20 matches, including three major finals.
However, Sharapova did manage to outperform Williams, who she believed bore a grudge against her, in one Grand Slam final. As a rising star, the Russian player defeated the then-two-time Wimbledon singles champion Williams at the 2004 tournament in SW19.
Sharapova’s abrupt retirement also followed a 15-month doping ban after failing a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open for Meldonium use.
Sharapova’s Meldonium use was deemed unintentional, drawing parallels to the recent clostebol scandal involving three-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner. Earlier this year, Sinner accepted a three-month doping ban deal, ensuring his participation in the upcoming French Open Grand Slam.
However, the similarity to Sharapova’s case has prompted the retired legend Williams to reflect on her past rival.
Williams, in a moment of reflection, confessed to Time magazine: “Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time. I can’t help but feel for her.” The tennis legend hung up her racquet two years after Sharapova in 2022, wrapping up an unrivalled legacy imprinted with 37 Grand Slam titles spanning both singles and doubles competitions, and the crowning glory of an Olympic gold medal from the London 2012 Games.
Up until 2023, Williams reigned as the unrivalled Open era singles Grand Slam titleholder with 23 triumphs. However, Novak Djokovic tipped the balance at the US Open, subsequently seeking the wisdom of Williams at this year’s Miami Open.
Astonished by his encounters, Djokovic revealed post his 6-2, 6-2 victory over Lorenzo Musetti: “I was starstruck! It was amazing to see first Del Po, obviously a long-time friend and a rival, so happy to have him around and get his support from the box. It was amazing, it was [the] first time to have DelPo in the box, so I want to thank him really for coming. And Serena, that was a surprise. I didn’t know.
“Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was okay. She kind of said, ‘Yeah, it was fine’. If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else’s standards. So yeah, great to have them.”
Williams, at 43, is relishing her roles as a mother and a thriving businesswoman. She has two daughters, Olympia Ohanian Jr. and Adira River Ohanian, with her husband Alexis Ohanian.
As her children grow, they will come to appreciate the magnitude of their mother’s illustrious tennis career. She recounted a conversation with her daughter to the New York Times: “Olympia told me the other day, ‘You’re famous.’ And I’m like: ‘Oh, not really. I’m just your mom’,” and added, “So I don’t know. I just feel like when the time comes – and, honestly, when it’s settled in for me too – I’ll definitely have that conversation with them, and I’ll let them know the potentially, the important, you know, the … I don’t want to be too presumptuous, but the impact I have had on sport and beyond.”