On Saturday, August 23, tennis fans witnessed a moment few could have predicted years ago: Serena Williams stepping onto the stage at the International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, to welcome her once fiercest rival, Maria Sharapova.
The 43-year-old Williams, who dominated women’s tennis for over two decades, was introduced as a surprise speaker by Sharapova herself. The 38-year-old Russian star officially joined the Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, five years after retiring from professional tennis in 2020. And though their on-court battles were filled with intensity and tension, Saturday’s tribute proved just how much their relationship has transformed.
From Rivals to “Forever Friends”
Williams opened her speech with a knowing smile, telling the audience:
“I’m probably the last person you were expecting to see here tonight.”
The line immediately drew laughter, as many in attendance remembered the long history between the two. Sharapova famously defeated Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final at just 17 years old, igniting one of the sport’s most electric rivalries. In the years that followed, the pair engaged in fierce battles and often appeared to share little warmth off the court.
But Williams reminded the crowd that beneath the surface, the two shared something powerful: an unrelenting drive to be the best.
“To the world, we looked miles and miles apart. The truth is, we weren’t,” she said. “We wanted the exact same thing at the exact same time: to be the very best. And what’s really wrong with that? Nothing. It’s what pushed us.”
Respect Through Competition
Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion who ended her career with an impressive 645–171 record, was one of the few players who could consistently challenge Williams during her reign. Williams acknowledged as much in her speech.
“There are only a few players in my career who challenged me to be my very best every time we stepped onto the court,” she reflected. “Maria Sharapova was one of them.”
Even as Williams poked fun at her former rival joking about a “heckler” in the audience while pointing at Sharapova—her admiration was evident. She described Sharapova’s on-court persona as “fierce” and “uncompromising,” praising her unwavering refusal to back down no matter the stakes.
A Friendship Beyond the Court
Perhaps the most touching part of the evening came when Williams addressed how their once-frosty relationship evolved into a genuine friendship. She admitted that the two began seeing each other differently at high-profile events like the Met Gala, where shared experiences gradually broke down old walls.
“One day, it just clicked that we liked each other,” Williams said. “If I didn’t know her better, I’d say she could’ve been my sister. The yin to my yang. The calm to my storm.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion even joked that she now calls Sharapova when dealing with life’s dramas—because that’s what sisters do.
A Legacy of Respect and Growth
By the end of her remarks, Williams summed up the transformation of their relationship beautifully:
“What started as a rivalry turned into an enormous amount of respect. And what grew from respect has turned to friendship.”
She then closed with a powerful statement that left the audience applauding:
“Tonight it’s my honor—as her former rival, former fan, and now forever friend—to welcome Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.”
A Moment for the Ages
For fans of tennis, the sight of Serena Williams honoring Maria Sharapova on one of the biggest nights of her life was not just emotional, but symbolic. Their journey from rivals to friends highlights the power of competition, respect, and personal growth.
As Sharapova joins the ranks of the sport’s legends, she does so not just with a plaque in Newport, but with the heartfelt blessing of the woman who once stood as her greatest challenge and who now proudly calls her a forever friend.