Sharapova aims dig at current women stars with Serena Williams comment

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Maria Sharapova has slammed the current crop of women’s tennis stars as she complimented old colleague Serena Williams following the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s retirement. The Russian announced herself when she upset Williams to win Wimbledon as a 17-year-old back in 2004 but won just one more match against the American for the rest of her career.

Williams played her final tournament at the US Open, bowing out in a fitting three-set battle with Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. The former world No 1 had barely played for over a year after injuring herself in the first round at Wimbledon last year, and made her return in the doubles at Eastbourne this summer.

She then played her first singles match in a year at Wimbledon, losing in the opening round to Harmony Tan, and played the WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati during which she announced her decision to “evolve away from tennis”, saying goodbye in Flushing Meadows. Sharapova has now confessed that she told the 73-time title winner that she was better than the current WTA players a year ago, despite Williams’ injury layoff.

The five-time Grand Slam champion returned to the US Open on women’s semi-final day and joined the ESPN team in the commentary booth, sharing her conversation with Williams from last year’s Met Gala. “It was amazing to see Serena’s run and the glory and the gracious tenacity as she carried through to the end of her career,” the former world No 1 started.

JUST IN: Andy Murray-led Davis Cup groups in Glasgow to go ahead as planned

“We spoke about it at the Met last year during this time of year and I said no disrespect to this generation but you are so much better and you need to go out there, so I’m glad that she had a chance here.” The 35-year-old had also backed Williams to keep playing earlier this year, before her comeback on the grass had been announced.

Speaking on the Never Stand Still podcast in January and said she thought the 40-year-old still had “it.” Sharapova explained: “We just saw each other in a match in New York a few weeks ago.

DON’T MISS
Rafael Nadal receives Casper Ruud threat as No 1 chances in trouble
Nick Kyrgios joined by second player in US Open marijuana comment
Roger Federer’s agent makes injury statement on Laver Cup status

“We were discussing how old we are now compared to the US Open final. She was like, ‘oh goodness we are up there.’ And I was like, ‘Woah! You still got it girl.” Sharapova herself retired from tennis in 2020. She was suspended for doping in 2016 and never regained her old form when she finally made her return to competition in April 2017.

Similar to Williams, the Russian penned an essay in a magazine to announce the end of career, but did so after she had played her final match at the Australian Open. “I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye. But as I embark on my next chapter, I want anyone who dreams of excelling in anything to know that doubt and judgement are inevitable,” she wrote in Vanity Fair.

Source: Read Full Article