From rivals to close friends, Sharapova’s induction into the Hall of Fame came as a surprise!

This week, Sharapova and the Bryan brothers officially entered the Tennis Hall of Fame, drawing significant attention from tennis fans, as Clijsters, the current Hall of Fame president, personally helped Sharapova don the suit representing her new status.

Founded in 1954 by James Van Alen as a nonprofit tennis memorial institution, the International Tennis Hall of Fame was recognized by the International Tennis Federation in 1986 and began hosting induction ceremonies.

Over its decades-long history, this institution has honored individuals who have made outstanding contributions to tennis, including legends like Sampras, Seles, Agassi, and Muster. Additionally, former Chinese professional player Li Na became the first Asian inductee in 2019, alongside Kafelnikov that same year.

Five-time Grand Slam champion, former world No. 1 in women’s singles, a career Grand Slam winner with 36 tour titles, Sharapova’s receiving this highest tennis honor is well deserved. The unforgettable image of the 19-year-old holding the US Open women’s singles trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York back in 2006 remains vivid to this day.

This past Saturday (yesterday), the 2025 International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony was officially held, and we were pleasantly surprised to see Serena Williams attend as a guest speaker.

“You must be very surprised! I know I might be the last person anyone expected to be here tonight, and honestly, if you had asked me a few years ago, I might have thought the same.”

“A few months ago, Maria messaged me saying she needed to talk, so I called her. She asked if I would be willing to recommend her for the Hall of Fame. I remember she hadn’t even finished asking before I already said yes.”

“My response was loud and without hesitation, coming straight from the heart — yes, because it’s Maria!”

In her speech, Serena expressed that although she and Maria were once fierce rivals and had disagreements and sparks in the past, they both shared the same ambition during their playing careers: to be the best player.

Because of this, Serena and Sharapova had intense competition during their careers, producing many classic moments in their numerous encounters.

Clearly, both have made peace with past events. Which match between Serena and Sharapova left the deepest impression on you?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)