Serena Williams said Maria Sharapova showed courage in her drug confession
By Leah Smith
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Serena Williams voiced her support of Maria Sharapova.
Serena Williams showed her support for Maria Sharapova on Tuseday, saying that Sharapova showed “courage” in confessing to the failed drug test.
On Monday, Sharapova called a press conference to admit that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open – where Williams beat her in the quarterfinals – as a drug she had been taking for 10 years had been placed on the banned substances list.
From Sports Illustrated:
"“As Maria said, she’s ready to take full responsibility and I think that showed a lot of courage and a lot of heart,” Williams told reporters before her Tuesday night match against Caroline Wozniacki in New York."
Williams and Sharapova have been rivals for years on the court, and are two of the most recognizable athletes in the world. Sharapova had success early in her career against Williams taking two of three matches in 2004, while Williams has won the last 18 since.
Despite Sharapova’s lack of success against Williams, she holds five career Grand Slam singles titles, with her 2004 Wimbledon crown coming against Williams. Those five Grand Slams place Sharapova third among active female players. Both Williams sisters sit ahead of her on that list with Venus at seven, and Serena with 21.
Sharapova’s most recent Grand Slam title was the 2014 French Open crown. It may be a while until her next title as the failed drug test has triggered a provisional suspension by the ITF, which begins on March 12.
With Sharapova gone from the tour for the foreseeable future, that leaves Williams as the lone superstar in women’s tennis.