"In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life": Teary Maria Sharapova's speech after being inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Maria Sharapova gave an unforgettable and deeply personal speech as she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, reflecting on her career, the people who shaped her journey, and the values that propelled her to greatness.

In footage shared by Tennis Channel, she was inducted by her great rival Serena Williams who was a surprise in regards to her being there. But it produced an emotional response from them both.

Sharapova opened with a playful nod to her longtime rival Serena Williams. “She forgot to give me the trophy. God forbid Serena gives me the trophy, I’ll just take it myself,” she joked. “Wow, I’m a mess, internally. Who would have thought? Serena Williams interviewed me for a full hour to prepare for today’s speech. That’s when I realised it was really game on.”

Sharapova recalled the humor and camaraderie in her friendship with Williams. “Serena, I thought maybe today you’d let me win just this once, but… you may have won the speech competition. I’ll never forget that call that was meant to be my interview. We laughed so much, and if I’m being honest, spent most of the time gossiping. I wish I could tell you what we gossiped about, but I’ll save that for later.”

Later, Williams sent her a message asking: “In your words, how did we get here?” Sharapova shared her thoughts, praising Williams’ drive and tenacity, acknowledging how much Serena pushed her to become her best.

Sharapova reflected on the similarities in their upbringings. “Our backgrounds are more similar than what meets the eye. We both had fathers with incredible—bordering on unreasonable—levels of belief in their young daughters. They made countless unspoken sacrifices to give us a chance at greatness. I had a front row seat to how wholly dedicated they were to making us into champions.”

She continued, “We left everything out on the lines of the court, every single match we played. We both hated to lose more than anything on this earth. And we both knew the other was the biggest obstacle between ourselves and the trophy. That’s the root of how we got here. We were cut from the same cloth.”

Even after their careers ended, Sharapova emphasized their enduring friendship: “Once the lights dimmed on our careers, and they locked the gates behind us, we brought our guards down. I’m so deeply grateful for you for our friendship. This means the world to me, more than you’ll ever know. Thank you.”

Sharapova expressed her honor at joining the Hall of Fame. “I am humbled to be standing in front of you today, to be inducted alongside the legends of our sport. It’s truly the honour of a lifetime. Bob and Mike, congratulations on an exceptional career. If only I had your volleys, my father would be thrilled—thrilled.”

Sharapova shared heartfelt and humorous tributes to the people who helped shape her career.

Max Eisenbud, her long-time agent. “You played a role far more significant than what’s written on your résumé. You were my shield, the ultimate punching bag, the one who unapologetically said ‘no’ on my behalf over and over again. You even had to fire Jimmy Connors, which is a task no one wants.” Sharapova also joked about his love for French waffles, noting that he “single-handedly kept the waffle stand in business every year.”

Her Father: “Dad—we really did this together, didn’t we? I am such a lucky girl to have navigated this journey under your wings. When no one believed we could, you always did. You were tough, and you expected me to raise my standards. But along the way, you never forgot your most important role: to be my father. It’s a gift I am deeply grateful for. Thank you.”

Her Mother: “I know you were too nervous to watch my matches, but I hope you’re watching this. Today I’m wearing the very first Tiffany pearls you ever bought when we earned our big paycheque. You’re a true testament to the unspoken lessons you teach me every day: elegance, kindness, unconditional love. I love you from the bottom of my heart, and I’m so lucky to call you my best friend.”

Her Husband: “You opened my eyes to a world I really didn’t know existed. It wasn’t easy to break me away from my tunnel vision—you know I had the tunnel vision. But I’m so happy you pulled me out of that comfort zone. You have given me one of the greatest gifts of my life: our little son, Theo. I’m such a lucky girl to share this future with you.”

Sharapova spoke about the winding path of her career: “My journey was a winding one, complete with the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and all the uncertain ground in between. Believe it or not, there’s no playbook on how to navigate those twists and turns—on how to be great for the long haul. But if there’s one single quality that can guide you to greatness in the absence of that playbook, I believe it’s grit.”

She reflected on the uncelebrated moments behind the scenes: “So much of what shapes the very best happens far from the cameras: the dewy mornings on the practice courts, the late nights pouring over technical film, the endless fine-tuning until muscle memory overrides hesitation. The world recognises the trophies, the Grand Slams, the fanfare, the Centre Court glory. But in hindsight, my favourite moments were always the quiet victories—small triumphs that stacked up and steadied me in the biggest moments.”

Sharapova discussed the inner drive that carried her through challenges: “Through it all, a small, persistent voice urged me forward, even when logic and outside influences would have had me give up. I leaned into that quiet certainty—self-conviction. It gave me resilience, and the strength to keep moving, reaching, fighting until it was really, really over.”

She also highlighted the mental aspect of her game: “When I look back at myself on court, what I see is the relentless pursuit of improvement, regardless of circumstances. I was never the fastest, never the strongest, and certainly not the best mover. But when you fine-tune your mental fortitude, you can transcend the limits of your body every single time. My fist pump was the physical expression of that idea—less of a celebration than a symbol of persistence, occasionally for show, but always a promise to myself.”

Sharapova concluded with advice for anyone striving for greatness: “Embrace the struggles. Lean into the hard stuff. Trust your instinct. Rely on your resilience. Set goals that intimidate you. Celebrate your victories, no matter how small. Pump that fist, whatever your personal version is, as a reminder of how unstoppable you are. In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. And what a remarkable, remarkable life. I am so deeply grateful for it. Thank you.”