Serena Williams retired from tennis, Maria Sharapova feud affected career

Serena Williams bombarded the tennis world on Tuesday night, she will retire after the us open She wants to have more children and focus her energies on her burgeoning business career.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion vogue magazineshe reflected on her career and looked forward to the next phase of her life off the court.

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Arguably the most dominant player in women’s tennis, in the Open Era, and perhaps never before, she opened her heart to reach dizzying heights.

“I had a lot of matches that I won because I was upset about something or someone counted me out, and that drove me,” Williams wrote. “I’ve made a career out of channeling anger and negativity and turning it into something good.”

Williams’ strong determination to be the best has put her head-to-head with five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova for much of her career. The Russian, too, was driven by a ruthless thirst for silverware and saw every player as a competitor to beat, so she admitted she didn’t have many friends on tour.

A teenage Sharapova surprised Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final to win her first Grand Slam, igniting a bitter rivalry in the pair. The Russian also defeated Williams in her next matchup at her WTA Championship later that year, but when Williams tried to turn the tide, she said that was where her losing streak would end. I judged.

Incredibly, for two players who were both at the bottom of the rankings for most of their careers, Williams never lost to Sharapova again. Their final matchup — his 6-1 6-1 demolition job at the 2019 US Open — sealed Williams’ amazing 20-2 record against Sharapova.

Another layer was added to the rivalry when Sharapova wrote in her 2017 memoir. Unstoppable: My Life So Fara devastated Williams inspired to dominate her following the 2004 Wimbledon final.

Speaking after the game, Sharapova said of her opponent’s reaction in the locker room. Williams ‘hated’ her from that moment on.

Sharapova wrote, “A sob in the throat is breathtaking and frightening.”

“It went on and on. I got out as fast as I could, but she knew I was there. People often wondered why I had such a hard time beating Serena. She has owned me for the last 10 years and my record against her is 2-19.

“In analyzing this, people talk about Serena’s strength, her serve and her confidence, how her particular game aligns with my particular game. And that there’s truth to all of that. But for me, the real answer was there: She was sobbing in this locker room where I was getting dressed: Serena beat her against all odds at Wimbledon. I think he hated me for being a skinny kid.”

Williams responded to these allegations in 2018 after Sharapova’s book was officially released, denouncing it as “hearsay.”

“I think the book was 100% hearsay. At least everything I read and the quotes I read left me a little disappointed,” Williams said.

“I cried a lot in the locker room after the loss and I’ve seen a lot of people do that. I think it’s normal.

“It’s the Wimbledon final, so I think I would have been more shocked if I hadn’t been in tears.”

Williams was shocked to learn how important a role she played in Sharapova’s career and was upset that she was portrayed as hating Sharapova.

“The book said a lot about me. I never thought I’d read a book about myself, and it wasn’t necessarily true,” Williams said.

“I didn’t know she had so much respect for me and was so involved in my career.

“I don’t have any negative feelings towards her, but I was a little disappointed when I saw the hearsay book.

“I feel like I’m being taught negative things, especially when I have a daughter. One thing I always say is that I think women, especially, should nurture each other.

“A lot of people always assume that I feel different, but that’s not true.

“If anything, I think we should encourage each other. One woman’s success should be another woman’s inspiration. I’ve said it a thousand times.”

The 2019 clash between Williams and Sharapova at Flushing Meadows was the first since the 2016 Australian Open and the first since the Russian returned from a 15-month doping ban after testing positive for meldonium. did. cooled.

Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, was watching the game from the stands where he was. Wear a t-shirt that grabs attention.

It said, “Keep kids away from drugs.” The acronym stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and many interpreted this fashion choice as a direct disrespect for Sharapova, who was suspended from doping.

But time heals all wounds. If you don’t care about pictures of Sharapova and Williams at last year’s Met Gala, the pair are doing well these days.

Tennis fans were shocked to see the pair alongside Williams’ sister Venus. happy snap pose together Upload photos to social media in New York.

first published as Fierce Maria Sharapova rivalry pushed Serena Williams to the top of tennis