Serena Williams still thinks about old rival Maria | Sports News

Tennis legend Serena Williams still thinks about old rival Maria Sharapova, who retired from the game at 32 in 2020 after harm struggles hampered her performances. Williams and Sharapova met 22 occasions, with the American successful 20 matches, three of which had been main finals.

Sharapova did get the higher of Williams, who she believed hated her, in a single Grand Slam last, although. As a teenage sensation, the Russian toppled then-two-time Wimbledon singles champion Williams on the 2004 event in SW19. Sharapova’s sudden retirement additionally got here three years after she completed serving a 15-month doping ban after failing a medication check on the 2016 Australian Open, having taken Meldonium.

It was decided that Sharapova’s consumption of Meldonium was unintentional, drawing comparisons to three-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner’s current scandal with clostebol. Sinner agreed to a doping ban deal of three months earlier this yr, which means the Italian won’t miss the upcoming French Open Grand Slam – however the similarity with Sharapova has left retired legend Williams pondering about her former foe.

“Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time. I can’t help but feel for her,” Williams admitted to Time. Williams retired simply over two years later than Sharapova in 2022. The singles celebrity drew the curtain on a second-to-none profession that included 37 Grand Slams in whole throughout singles and doubles competitions and an Olympic gold medal on the 2012 London Games.

Up till 2023, Williams was the all-time singles Grand Slam holder within the Open period with 23 titles. She was surpassed by Novak Djokovic on the U.S. Open, who was eager for Williams’ advice on the Miami Open earlier this yr.

“I was starstruck! It was amazing to see first Del Po, obviously a long-time friend and a rival, so happy to have him around and get his support from the box,” Djokovic stated after his 6-2, 6-2 match in opposition to Lorenzo Musetti.

“It was amazing, it was [the] first time to have DelPo in the box, so I want to thank him really for coming. And Serena, that was a surprise. I didn’t know.”

“Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was okay,” the Serbian continued. “She kind of said, ‘Yeah, it was fine’. If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else’s standards. So yeah, great to have them.”

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Now, Williams is having fun with life as a mom and a profitable entrepreneur. Williams, 43, has two daughters – Olympia Ohanian Jr. and Adira River Ohanian – together with her husband, Alexis Ohanian. As her daughters grow old, they will perceive Williams’ legendary profession. “Olympia told me the other day, ‘You’re famous.’ And I’m like: ‘Oh, not really. I’m just your mom,'” she informed the New York Times.

“So I don’t know. I just feel like when the time comes — and, honestly, when it’s settled in for me too — I’ll definitely have that conversation with them, and I’ll let them know the potentially, the important, you know, the … I don’t want to be too presumptuous, but the impact I have had on sport and beyond.”