In the history of women’s tennis, few matches have attracted as much attention and created as much controversy as the one between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. 

Although Serena Williams is almost completely superior in terms of expertise, what surrounds this match – from personality, image, to personal statements – has turned this into one of the most iconic feuds in world sports.

It all started in 2004 when Maria  Sharapova , then 17, shocked the world by beating Serena in the Wimbledon final, winning her first Grand Slam.

The victory was seen as a historic turning point, marking the rise of a young talent and opening up hopes of a high-profile confrontation that would last for many years.

However, the reality is different. As of their last meeting at the 2019 US Open, Serena had beaten Sharapova 20 of 22 times. In more than 15 years, Sharapova had not beaten Serena once at any Grand Slam tournament. It was a series of harsh results that overshadowed any hope of a fair competition.

Despite their uneven results, their relationship was always “heated” by tensions off the court. In 2017, in her autobiography “Unstoppable”, Sharapova revealed that she once heard Serena crying in the locker room after losing at Wimbledon in 2004.

This was a detail that Serena later denied and considered “an invasion of privacy”.

Not stopping there, the two have repeatedly criticized each other in the media, creating a cold and tense atmosphere every time they meet.

Sharapova and Serena also represent two opposing images: one is a blonde fashion icon associated with luxury brands; the other is a strong, charismatic black tennis player and a loud voice on social issues.

That difference makes their confrontation even more special, not only in sport but also in culture and lifestyle.

Their last encounter was in the first round of the 2019 US Open, where Serena won 6-1, 6-1. It was a quiet ending, but enough to close a special chapter in WTA history.

Serena – Sharapova is not only a feud between two tennis players, but also a symbol of the confrontation between two worlds.