ROADLEY, NEWPORT — Serena Williams appeared from behind the stage to introduce “ex-rival, former fan, eternal friend” Maria Sharapova on Saturday night, and made an early appearance in the International Tennis Hall of Fame with AA surprises.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion who qualified for her own ensh crime in 2027, cried out in breath from the crowd at Newport Shrine.
“There are only a few players in my career who have challenged me to be the best. “Maria Sharapova was one of them. Whenever I saw her name next to me in a draw, I made sure I was practicing more.”
And the emotions were mutual.
“It’s a gift that someone motivates you to reach those heights, and I will forever thank you for bringing out the best in me,” Shapova said in her acceptance speech. “Both of us knew no other way but to fight our minds. …We hated losing more than anything on this planet. We both knew that the other was the biggest obstacle between ourselves and our trophies.”
Sharapova, the first Russian woman to reach number one in the rankings, and one of 10 women to complete a career grand slam, joined the class of 2025 by dominating doubles team Mike and Bob Brian. The twin brothers finished their speech with one of the breast bumps of the trademark.
Hall of Fame Martina Navratirova, Jim Courier, Stan Smith and Andy Roddick were in the crowd and dressed in the Blue Hall of Fame Blazers. Sharapova and Bryan Brothers also received the Hall’s latest product for returnees: the cast tennis racket.
Sharapova is described in her introductory video as someone who “combined glamour with glamour”, and some of the stylish outfits she competed in have already been exhibited in the hall.
Williams said her rival has been the world’s highest paid female athlete for the 11th consecutive year, bolstered by her supportive income that surpasses her on-court prize money.
“She showed us how to incorporate excellence on the court and turn it into business excellence, fashion, branding and everything she touched,” Williams said. “She changed the way women not only got closer to tennis, but also got closer to sports and opportunities. She showed you that you’re getting intense on the court, becoming strategic from the court, and repeating yourself all the time.”
Sharapova said her induction gave her the opportunity to turn around. And she believed in success as “accepting struggle and leaning on difficult things.”
“When the voice inevitably tells you to easily round your edges and blunt your ambitions, I hope you can find a way to ignore them,” she said. “We’re going to compete fiercely. Raise the standard. We’ll set goals that threaten you. And, no matter how small, don’t forget to celebrate your victory.
“Tennis gave me life by giving my life to tennis,” she said. “And what an incredible, amazing life. And I’m so deeply grateful for it.”
Brian shares his speeches as if he was being replaced on the court, and he is alternated with the microphone, thanking his coaches, friends and Davis Cup teammates from his career, winning 119 ATP titles, including 16 Grand Slams and Olympic gold medals. They recorded 438 weeks on the world rankings.
Bob Brian and Navratilova, who won the 2006 US Open Mix Doubles title, honored the brothers so that the field of doubles can’t be forgotten.
“Too many athletes aren’t going beyond the sport,” she said. “It’s great for twins to do.”
“For a large part of my career, I had the number one player in the world across the hall,” Bob Brian said.
“Doubles has been our love from day one,” Mike Bryan said. “We loved everything about doubles. We loved strategy, teamwork, sharing, highs and lows. Just like our personality, our game complemented each other perfectly.”
