**Former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova Screams as Longtime Rival Serena Williams Pays Tribute During Hall of Fame Induction**
Maria Sharapova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, USA, five years after her retirement. During the ceremony, the audience was surprised when Serena Williams appeared on stage to introduce her former rival — an appearance that had not been announced by the organizers. The presence of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion drew cheers from the crowd, while Sharapova repeatedly screamed in excitement.
“I know I’m the last person you expected to see here today,” Serena began. “Honestly, a few years ago, I would’ve been surprised myself. A few months ago, Sharapova texted me and asked if I would introduce her at the Hall of Fame. Before she even finished the question, I had already said yes. Because it’s Sharapova — how could I not feel honored?”
This event marked a turning point in the complex relationship between the two former players, who were once considered the fiercest rivals in women’s tennis. They faced off 22 times since Wimbledon 2004, where Sharapova shocked the world by defeating Serena to win her first Grand Slam. The Russian also beat Serena in the WTA Finals that same year but went on to lose the next 20 matches against the American. They battled in four Grand Slam finals and also at the London 2012 Olympics.
Their rivalry extended beyond the court. In a 2013 interview, Serena hinted that her rival was boring and dating “a guy with a dark heart,” widely believed to be Grigor Dimitrov — a former boyfriend of Serena’s. Sharapova later responded by saying Serena had disliked her ever since she was “that skinny girl who beat her at Wimbledon.” When Sharapova published her memoir _Unstoppable_, Williams countered that many of the details were just “gossip and rumors.”
The International Tennis Hall of Fame honors retired players or contributors who have made significant impacts on the sport. This year’s inductees were Sharapova and the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike.
In her speech, Serena referred to Sharapova as a “former rival, former fan, and now a forever friend.” She emphasized that behind all the on-court tension, the two shared a lot in common. “I feel like Maria could be my sister,” said the 43-year-old. “She’s the calm to my storm, the yin to my yang. So don’t be surprised when I call her to talk about life’s challenges — because that’s what sisters do.”
Serena also admitted that Sharapova was one of the few players who forced her to be at her absolute best. “Every time I saw her name in the draw, I trained harder. That’s part of why I became the best version of myself,” said the four-time Olympic gold medalist.
Sharapova was visibly emotional, listening intently to her former opponent’s words. In her own speech, she thanked Serena for being there and cracked a joke that made the audience burst out laughing: “I thought Serena would finally let me win something today — but I think she just won the speech contest,” said the 38-year-old.
On social media, Sharapova wrote: “Thank you for standing by me today, Serena. It means the world.”
Their feud finally ended after both retired. They grew closer through mutual appearances at fashion events and gatherings like the Met Gala, eventually forming a friendship. “It started with respect, then became a friendship. And today, I’m honored to call Maria a forever friend,” Serena said.
Sharapova retired in 2020 with five Grand Slam titles, 36 WTA titles in total, an Olympic silver medal, and is one of the few women to complete a Career Grand Slam. She also stood out commercially, topping the list of highest-paid female athletes in the world for 11 consecutive years, thanks largely to endorsement deals.
“I’ve said this once before, and it rings even truer now: I gave my life to tennis, and tennis gave me a life — a wonderful life. I’m grateful for that,” Sharapova concluded her speech.