Maria Sharapova’s long-standing non-rivalry with Serena Williams (because Serena has dominated her for 15 years) is well documented but she continually throws subtle shade at Serena.
According to Tennis World, in her book “Unstoppable: My life so far” Sharapova says Serena used to intimidate her in the locker room then goes on to explain how she admires her ability to constantly wake up and improve.
‘I do not really know why this thing passionates journalists so much… Me and Serena are different in everything: story, past, style, attitude’, admitted the Russian. ‘But in the end our tennis goals are the same and we fight to achieve them.
I always admired that Serena wakes up every morning thinking to improve’. Sharapova also commented on the differences between her on-court and off-court character: ‘On the court, I am not hot, I admit it.
She goes on to say if the competition was something like, picking out a Christmas tree, she’d definitely be hot and she’d like to be remembered as “popular” in 1o years.
Because I cannot be it: I would be dominated. You’d better see me when I was choosing the Christmas tree, not cold at all… I know they draw me as a cold Siberian but I tell you one thing: changing the people’s opinion is an effort I do not want to make.’ How would she like to be remembered in ten years? ‘I always wished to become popular.
Both Serena and Sharapova are competing in the Australian Open. We’ll see if Sharapova still feels the same in the event of a loss at the hands of Williams.
