On February 26, 2020, through two interviews granted to Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines, Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 32. The cause of the retirement, as explained by herself, was her body, worn out and no longer able to recover from the countless injuries suffered in recent years.
Two years later, at the US Open 2022, Serena Williams said her goodbye to tennis, in what was a momentous September for the Game. Serena and Maria, great rivals on the court (but also outside the court!), Are the tennis players who have earned the most in their amazing careers.
Maria Sharapova praises Serena Williams for gender pay gap battle
During an interview at the New York Fashion Week, Maria Sharapova praised Serena and her sister Venus for their gender pay gap battlesaid. She sadi: “I’ve seen it from the sidelines being a woman in a sport that didn’t have equal pay, that didn’t have equal rights.
I witnessed Venus Williams fighting for equal prize money at every single one of her press conferences, every single one. You know how challenging but brave of her to show up and do that is?” On Serena Williams’ retirement at the US Open 2022, Sharapova said: “She deserved that moment.
To see her shine and to see her perform. Watching her match at Wimbledon and losing early, I think that was actually the best gift because she wanted to come out much stronger than how she played at Wimbledon. So to see her elevate her game and compete and go out fighting, which she has done throughout her whole life with that grit and grace, was spectacular.”
Serena Williams’ retirement
Serena Williams played the last few matches of her career at the US Open. In the US Grand Slam, as well as the home tournament for the Williams’ most successful sister, everything was ready for the retirement of the former world number one.
A preparation that, however, has slipped with the passing of the days, collecting victories against her opponents: first against Kovinic in the first round, then against seeded number two Anett Kontaveit. Serena Williams, however, had to surrender against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets.
There have been numerous messages that the tennis players of the Tour have sent to the Queen of tennis for her withdrawal from the scene. From the current world number one, Iga Swiatek, to a recent doubles partner, Ons Jabeur.
