How a text message ended the 20-year feud between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams
One of the greatest feuds in tennis lasted 15 years on the court, and six more years after they hung up their racquets.
But it finally ended when former Russian tennis great Maria Sharapova sent a text message to Serena Williams to ask for a favour.
Now, Sharapova has revealed during an interview with Gayle King at the Time100 Summit in New York overnight the moment they put their differences aside.
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were rivals on the court for 15 years. Boston Globe via Getty Images
Theirs was among the biggest rivalries in women's tennis, and began right back in 2004 when a then 17-year-old Sharapova caused one of the biggest upsets in tennis and snatched the 2004 Wimbledon women's final from Williams.
For the next 15 years, they battled it out, going head to head on court 22 times, with Wiliams emerging the victor in all but two matches, before their final meeting on the court at the 2019 US Open.
The following year, Sharapova retired from the sport at 32. Two years later, it was Williams who hung up her racquet at 40.
Fast forward to 2025, and Sharapova was told she was to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. When it was time to think about who would bestow the honour, she told King that Williams was "the first person that came to mind".
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Sharapova told King she ended the feud after reaching out to Williams via text. Getty Images for TIME
"There was no one that I wanted to see other than her on stage and I had to make that phone call," Sharapova told King.
But instead of calling, she decided to send a text to her one-time foe. Afterwards, Williams called her and they spoke on the phone "for over an hour" about their careers, their personal lives, and even their children.
"And then at the end, I was like, 'Oh by the way, would you induct me into the Tennis Hall of Fame?'" Sharapova said.
She agreed, but Sharapova wanted to keep it a secret.
When it came time for the induction ceremony to take place last August, "nobody knew" about Williams' involvement.
"Not even my father who was sitting right next to me when she came on stage," she said.
"I wanted it to be a big surprise for everyone. And I felt it in the room."
Sharapova and Williams during the Australian Open women's final match in 2015. Getty
As for their famous beef, Sharapova said, "I wouldn't call it a rivalry. She kicked my a---many times.
"I've had some of my toughest moments and some of my biggest victories on the court with her."
"[But] at the end of the day, we have so much deep respect for each other."
Sharapova revealed the two were on much friendlier terms.
"Since we retired, we got very close."
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