In August, five years after calling time on her playing days, Maria Sharapova was officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Sharapova’s career included a Career Grand Slam and 36 singles titles. She finished with a record of 645 wins to 171 losses.
She pulled off one of the sport’s biggest upsets as a teenager at Wimbledon in 2004, beating Serena Williams in straight sets to claim her first major title.
This match kicked off one of tennis’ most high-profile rivalries. Even though Sharapova only won two of their next 22 meetings, every encounter drew global attention.
Their competitive history is well documented, but they’ve also shown respect for each other over the years. Back in January 2020, Williams even suggested that media coverage often exaggerated any tension between them.
Maria Sharapova reflects on Serena Williams’ role in her Hall of Fame induction
During an appearance on The David Rubenstein Show, Sharapova was asked if it felt ‘awkward’ having Williams induct her. She replied: “Awkward wasn’t the right word. It was so exciting, and it was so thrilling.”
Rubenstein then asked: “Were you surprised that she agreed to do it?”