She Could Have Been My Sister’: Serena Williams Shares Strong Opinion on Maria Sharapova

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 2:17 AM ET

When people think of great rivalries in women’s tennis, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova instantly come to mind. For years, their battles weren’t just about titles they carried an intensity that went well beyond the baseline. Unlike the friendly respect we saw between Federer and Nadal, Serena and Sharapova’s dynamic was often fueled by sharp competitiveness and, at times, open dislike.

Yet, time has a way of softening even the toughest rivalries. As Sharapova was recently honored with her place in the Hall of Fame, Serena not only offered her congratulations but went a step further—revealing that, in some ways, Sharapova reminded her of her own sister, Venus.

At Sharapova’s Hall of Fame induction, Serena Williams reflected on how their once-intense rivalry has evolved over time. She admitted that what was once pure competition has now grown into a genuine friendship, even adding that Sharapova, in some ways, reminds her of her sister Venus.

Sharapova got emotional during Serena’s speech.

“She actually reminds me a lot of Venus. The more I know her the more I think the things we share and can share in the future (…) I think she could have been my sister”. pic.twitter.com/6p9HnwxZEx
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 24, 2025

She said, “She actually reminds me a lot of Venus, and the more I get to know her, the more I think about the things we share and we can share in the future. Maria is honest, she gets to the point quickly, she is earnest, she is loyal, she's family-oriented, and at her core she is just a great person. If I did know her better, I think she could have been my sister. The yin to my yang.”

A Closer Look at the Rivalry Between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova’s rivalry is one of the most talked-about in women’s tennis history but also one of the most lopsided. On paper, it doesn’t look like much of a contest: Serena won 19 straight matches after Sharapova stunned her as a 17-year-old in the 2004 Wimbledon final, then beat her again later that year at the WTA Finals.

From 2005 onward, though, it was all Serena. Four of their 22 meetings came in Grand Slam finals, but Serena won them all, including a crushing 6-1, 6-1 victory in their last match at the 2019 US Open.

Yet, despite the one-sided numbers, there was always buzz whenever they shared the court. Their star power, the tension between them, and Serena’s determination after that early Wimbledon loss gave the rivalry an edge fans couldn’t ignore. Even Sharapova admitted it wasn’t much of a rivalry, but it remained one of the sport’s most fascinating storylines.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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