Serena Williams Makes Surprise Appearance to Welcome Ex-Rival Maria Sharapova Into Tennis Hall of Fame: ‘Forever Friend’

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, erstwhile nan "fiercest of rivals," celebrated their relationship complete nan play arsenic Sharapova earned her spot successful nan International Tennis Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, Williams introduced her “forever friend” astatine nan Newport, R.I., ceremonial arsenic portion of nan hallway of fame’s 2025 class, noting that she was “probably nan past personification you were expecting to spot present tonight” aft Sharapova, 38, asked her to opportunity a fewer words.

“To nan world, we looked miles and miles apart. The truth is, we weren't,” Williams, 43, said. “We wanted nan nonstop aforesaid point astatine nan nonstop aforesaid time: to beryllium nan very best. In our sport, only 1 personification tin really locomotion distant pinch nan trophy. And what's really incorrect pinch wanting to beryllium your best? Nothing. In fact, it's what drove us.”

Sharapova, a five-time awesome singles champion who ended her profession pinch a 645-171 record, was inducted 5 years aft her status successful 2020.

As portion of nan festivities, Williams offered a heartfelt introductory speech, during which she reflected connected their "electric and iconic" rivalry that she said kicked disconnected pinch Sharapova's 2004 Wimbledon victory. The hostility betwixt nan 2 successful nan years to travel was "real," Williams admitted, though they "really respected each different immensely.”

"There are only a fewer players successful my profession who challenged maine to beryllium my very champion each clip we stepped retired onto nan court," she said. "Maria Sharapova was 1 of them."

Midway done her speech, Williams laughed that she had a "heckler" successful nan assemblage while pointing to her erstwhile rival, earlier commending Sharapova connected her "never-surrender" cognition and being "fierce" and "uncompromising" connected nan court.

Williams besides made judge to reside what she called nan "elephant successful nan room" and explained really nan 2 sewage to nan existent constituent successful their friendship, revealing that nan brace "started to spot each different differently" while attending events for illustration nan Met Gala. One day, she explained, it "just clicked" that they liked each other.

"If I didn't cognize her better, I deliberation she could've been my sister. The yin to my yang. The calm to my storm. So don't beryllium amazed erstwhile I'm calling her pinch each nan dramas successful my life, because that's what sisters do," Williams said. "So what started arsenic a rivalry turned into an tremendous magnitude of respect. And what grew from respect has turned to friendship."

"Tonight it's my grant arsenic her erstwhile rival, erstwhile instrumentality and now everlastingly friend ... to invited Maria Sharapova into nan International Tennis Hall of Fame."

The duo past shared a hug, earlier Sharapova joked that Williams "forgot to springiness maine nan trophy." She called herself a "mess internally" complete nan introduction, for which Williams interviewed her for an hr to prepare.

"Serena, I thought that coming you'd fto maine triumph conscionable this once, but you whitethorn person won nan reside competition," she said, adding that she and Williams shared "qualities" and that Williams brought retired her "best."

Per USA Today, nan women played 22 matches against each different since 2004, pinch their past being successful 2019. Sharapova won doubly against Williams during her career, successful some nan 2004 Wimbledon finals and astatine nan WTA Championships last successful 2004.

The Russian tennis star's storied profession highlights besides see her metallic badge astatine nan 2012 Olympics, her 36 singles profession titles and further Grand Slam victories astatine nan U.S. Open successful 2006, nan Australian Open successful 2008 and 2 titles astatine Roland-Garros successful 2012 and 2014, per her hall of fame page. She was inducted this play alongside brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.

Following her status successful 2020, Sharapova became a mother, welcoming boy Theodore successful 2022 pinch fiancé Alexander Gilkes.

"When voices inevitably show you to easiness up, information your edges, dull your ambition, I dream you tin find a measurement to disregard them," Sharapova said astatine nan extremity of her speech. "Compete fiercely, raise your standard, group goals that intimidate you and don't hide to observe your victories. No matter really small. When you're facing setbacks, inquire a batch of questions and look wrong for those answers. And yes, pump that fist — immoderate your individual type is — arsenic a reminder of really unstoppable you are."

"I said it erstwhile and it rings moreover truer now: In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave maine a life. What a remarkable, singular life. And I'm truthful profoundly grateful for it,” she added.