Met their matches
Sharapova, rival Serena bury hatchet at NYC Gala
They went from rivals to party pals.
Tennis icons Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova — known for their famous on-court rivalry through the years — posed together for photos at the Met Gala in New York City on Monday night.
They were joined by Williams’ sister, fellow tennis star Venus Williams, who called the meeting a “reunion” in a post on her Instagram Story. That’s 35 Grand Slams in one photo, an excited fan noted on Twitter.
Sharapova also shared the snap to her Instagram Story, along with a separate photo with Lakers star Russell Westbrook.
The thrilling back-and-forth between Serena Williams and Sharapova began in 2004 at Wimbledon, when Sharapova defeated Williams to become the thirdyoungest female to win the title. But that was the last time she beat Williams — who dominated the remainder of their meetings before Sharapova retired in early 2020.
The on-court rivalry spilled into the duo’s personal lives, when they appeared to go tit-for-tat in separate interviews in 2013, over one of Serena Williams’ rumored exes, pro tennis player Grigor Dimitrov.
Then, Sharapova discussed Williams at length in her 2017 autobiography, “Unstoppable: My Life So Far,” in which she wrote that the pair were “not friends.”
Elsewhere in the book, Sharapova explained, “I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds” at Wimbledon in 2004.
Sharapova said she witnessed Williams “bawling” and emitting “guttural sobs” in the locker room after the loss.
“I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment. But mostly I think she hated me for hearing her cry. She’s never forgiven me for it,” Sharapova wrote.
Sharapova and Williams must have buried the hatchet during the latter years of the Russian’s career, and it showed as they were rubbing elbows at one of fashion’s biggest nights.
Serena turned heads at the Met Gala in a pink and silver feathered look by Gucci. Sharapova rocked a gold gown with pleated sleeves by Gabriela Heart. Meanwhile, Venus stunned in a strapless red dress by Prabal Gurung.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, attended the Met Gala with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Sharapova showed up with fiance Alexander Gilkes.
The tennis stars stepped out after both Serena and Venus pulled out of the U.S. Open, citing injuries. Other tennis pros in attendance included newly crowned U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka, who served as co-chair of this year’s Met in a look by Louis Vuitton.