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New Delhi: The Arthur Ashe Stadium turned into a dazzling evening at the US Open 2025. Maria Sharapova was honoured with a special ring to mark her induction into the Hall of Fame. The five-time Grand Slam champion turned heads at Flushing Meadows in a classic black dress that evoked memories of her breakthrough triumph in 2004.
Alongside her, the Bryan Brothers, Bob and Mike, were also awarded the special ring. She was all smiles as she accepted the ring just days after Serena Williams had formally welcomed her into the Hall of Fame during the Newport ceremony.
The celebration began with smoke cannons and a red carpet welcome. Sharapova thanked her supporters, saying, "New York, what a special place and special court. You people have made such an incredible impact on my journey and my career."
In her speech, she reflected on her 19-year journey, from wearing an Audrey Hepburn-inspired dress for the first time to becoming a tennis legend. She was a pioneering figure in tennis in her prime and ruled the fashion world by mixing it with sports. She topped the highest-paid athletes list back in 2005 and 2015, earning $29.7 million in 2015 alone.
The 38-year-old bid adieu to professional tennis in February 2020 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside the Bryan Brothers on Monday. Her career was not without controversies as she even served a 15-month suspension for unintentional doping, but her achievements over the years speak volumes of her calibre.
Sharapova's most celebrated victory was when she went on to beat Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final. Their rivalry was the defining one in women's tennis in their era. Over the years, she won a total of 36 singles career titles and 645 singles matches. It was a huge surprise for her when Williams stepped up at Sharapova's induction ceremony.
While speaking to ESPN, Sharapova said that Serena was the first person she called to share the news about her International Hall of Fame induction. Both the stars talked for an hour and kept it secret until she appeared.
Talking about the relationship they shared, she said, "I think we really let our guard down. There was always a deep, mutual respect for what we did. It was like a silent understanding of the effort, the sacrifice, of everything we have to go through to be champions."
Both stars were relentless competitors, often standing on opposite sides of the net, but the shared admiration between them was clear on this night. For Sharapova, receiving her ring at Flushing Meadows wasn’t just about honouring her career; it was about celebrating the battles, the rivalries, and the enduring legacy she leaves behind in tennis.
