Serena Williams Surprises at Maria Sharapova’s Induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame
In an unexpected appearance, Serena Williams starred in a memorable moment at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The tennis legend, who will be eligible for her own induction in 2027, appeared to present “her former rival, ex-fan, and friend forever” Maria Sharapova at her induction ceremony.The emotion was mutual. Sharapova, in her acceptance speech, highlighted the motivation that Serena gave her to achieve her goals.“There are few players in my career who challenged me to be the best, every time we stepped on the court. Maria Sharapova was one of them. Whenever I saw her name next to mine in the draw, I made sure to practice harder,” Williams expressed.
Serena Williams
Sharapova, the first Russian woman to reach number 1 in the ranking and one of the ten women to complete the career Grand Slam, shared the class of 2025 with the successful doubles team Mike and Bob Bryan. Among those present were Hall of Fame members such as Martina Navratilova, Jim Courier, Stan Smith, and Andy Roddick, who wore their distinctive blue blazers. Sharapova and the Bryan brothers received a plaster tennis racket, the hall’s most recent offering to new members. In the introductory video, Sharapova was described as someone who “combined courage with glamour.” The Hall already exhibits some of her iconic outfits, including a tuxedo-inspired dress she wore when winning Wimbledon in 2008. Williams highlighted that her rival was the world’s highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years, thanks to sponsorship income that exceeded her on-court earnings.“It’s a gift to have someone who motivates you to reach those heights. I will be eternally grateful for bringing out the best in me. We both knew there was no other way than to fight with all our hearts… We both hated losing more than anything in this world, and we both knew that the other was the biggest obstacle between us and the trophy,” said Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova
Sharapova reflected on her career, giving thanks for the lessons learned and highlighting the importance of overcoming challenges.“She showed us all how to bring excellence on the court and turn it into excellence in business, fashion, branding, and everything she touched. She changed the way women not only approached tennis, but also sports and opportunities. She showed us that you can be fierce on the court and strategic off it, and be unapologetically yourself all the time,” Williams commented.
Serena Williams
The Bryan brothers gave a speech in which they thanked coaches, friends, and Davis Cup teammates, recalling a career full of successes, including 119 ATP titles, 16 Grand Slams, and an Olympic gold medal. They held the record for 438 weeks at the top of the world ranking. Navratilova, who won the 2006 US Open mixed doubles title with Bob Bryan, praised the brothers for keeping the doubles discipline alive. Bob Bryan highlighted the luck of having the “world number 1 on the other side of the court” for much of his career. Mike Bryan added that they loved everything about doubles, from the strategy and teamwork to sharing moments of joy and sadness.“When voices inevitably tell you to relax, to soften your edges, to turn off your ambition, I hope you can find a way to ignore them. Compete fiercely. Raise your standard. Set goals that intimidate you. And don’t forget to celebrate your victories, no matter how small. By dedicating my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. And what a remarkable life, so remarkable. And I am deeply grateful for it,” expressed Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova
