Iga Swiatek ‘Shocked’ by Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova’s Reconciliation After Hall of Fame Induction

SME News UK. World No. 2 Iga Swiatek admitted she was “shocked” to see Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova put their once-frosty rivalry aside, following an emotional Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the US Open.Williams, who famously shared one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s tennis with Sharapova, delivered a heartfelt speech to honor the Russian star’s induction into the Hall of Fame ahead of this year’s Grand Slam in New York. The gesture marked a striking contrast to their competitive history, which was often defined by tension both on and off the court.After securing her own place in the US Open second round with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Emiliana Arango, Swiatek reflected on the surprise reunion.“Honestly, it’s great,” Swiatek said. “It’s a shame that it didn’t happen before when they were still on tour together. I just thought their relationship was so tense that I’m shocked they managed to work through it. But I guess if you have good intentions, you can work through everything. I was just happy to see them together because we should all be kind of united as players, even though we’re competing against each other.”Sharapova, who was also honored with an official US Open ring on Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, looked back fondly on her journey.“I have had some of the most beautiful moments on this court and some of the most challenging,” Sharapova said. “You’ve witnessed me grow up from being a young girl wearing an Audrey Hepburn-inspired night dress to now 19 years later accepting this beautiful ring and this amazing honor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this event so special.”The Williams–Sharapova rivalry remains one of the most iconic in tennis history. Their saga began in 2004 when a 17-year-old Sharapova stunned Williams in the Wimbledon final, a defeat Williams later described as “one of my hardest losses.”Over the next 15 years, the two would meet 22 times, with Williams winning 20 of those encounters. Their final clash came at the 2019 US Open before Sharapova retired in 2020 at the age of 32. Williams followed two years later, bidding farewell to the sport at the 2022 US Open at age 40.Between them, the pair collected 28 Grand Slam titles—23 for Williams, placing her just one shy of Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic’s record 24, and five for Sharapova, who completed the career Grand Slam with victories at all four majors.While their rivalry was marked by intensity, their reunion in New York offered a rare glimpse of mutual respect between two of the sport’s greatest champions—something Swiatek hopes sets an example for future generations.