Maira Sharapova is one of the most well-known faces of the Open Era. Competing in the most competitive times, with the William sisters in their unbeatable prime, Sharapova bagged 5 Grand Slams. She achieved the World No. 1 ranking for singles in August 2005 and held it for a total of 21 weeks throughout her career.
Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian professional, first started dating Sharapova in 2013. The two were together for about two years. During that time, Sharapova was still one of the top players in the world. Additionally, Dimitrov was a rising star in men’s tennis. Their relationship was highly publicized, with many fans and media outlets speculating about their future together.
It’s game, set, match for Maria Sharapova & Grigor Dimitrov. The couple have split up after almost 3 years of dating. pic.twitter.com/dOHyth8pKr
— Tennis (@tennis_photos) July 23, 2015
After their breakup in 2015, Dimitrov started dating Serena Williams later that year. Williams, like Sharapova, was also one of the top players in the world, and their relationship generated a lot of buzz in the tennis world. Coming, at the peak of their rivalry, the heat and intensity of the unforeseen love triangle were real. However, since much of their relationship was private, we do not know the actual reason for their split.
Serena and Sharapova, a fierce rivalry
The rivalry between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams is one of the most famous and intense in the sport’s history. It began in 2004 when 17-year-old Sharapova defeated Williams, then the world No. 1, in the final at Wimbledon. At the time, Sharapova was a rising star and Williams was already a dominant force in the sport.
The rivalry was marked by a number of dramatic moments, including a heated exchange between the two players during the 2013 Madrid Open. Sharapova was upset by Williams’ grunting during the match and accused her of deliberately trying to distract her. Williams responded by saying that she had been playing that way for years and suggested that Maria should focus on her own game.
Serena Williams leads Maria Sharapova 19-3 in career head-to-head matchups https://t.co/ovcHEYMtB5
— Andscape (@andscape) August 22, 2019
Another memorable moment came in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open when Sharapova defeated Williams for the first time in more than a decade. She went on to reach the final of the tournament but was defeated by Angelique Kerber.
However, their rivalry has also been marked by some controversy, particularly around Sharapova’s doping suspension in 2016. Williams was critical of her use of the banned substance meldonium, which led to a 15-month suspension. Sharapova, in turn, accused Williams of being disrespectful and jealous of her success.
Overall, the rivalry between Sharapova and Williams was one of the most compelling and intense in the history of women’s tennis. It showcased two incredibly talented and determined players. Till the very end, they pushed each other to be their best and captivated fans around the world.
