A legendary tennis star posed for a selfie with fellow sporting icon David Beckham[1] at a glitzy bash in New York.
Their event in the Big Apple came on the heels of the US Open, with the women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka[2] out in force as she completes her victory tour of the city.
Since claiming her fourth Grand Slam title with a win against Wimbledon[3] finalist Amanda Anisimova, Aryna Sabalenka has taken in the morning show circuit, as well as appeared on Jimmy Kimmel[4], and a number of podcasts.
But the world No 1 shared the spotlight with another multiple-majors winner on Tuesday.
However, this tennis icon might look slightly different to those who have not followed her since her playing career wound down in 2020.
Maria Sharapova[5] is no longer the blonde star who broke out with her landmark Wimbledon victory in 2004 – these days wearing her hair a darker colour closer to her natural shade.
A tennis icon looked a world away from her playing career as she posed with David Beckham
The star also linked up with current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to celebrate Stella Artois
The sporting greats posed up a storm as they took the selfie – months after linking up in London at Wimbledon
The Russian superstar has long been a Stella Artois ambassador – along with Beckham – and previously teamed up the former England superstar[6] to promote the beer at Wimbledon.
The 38-year-old’s night out in New York City at an event for the Belgian beer, a sponsor of the ATP Tour, came on the heels of her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame three weeks ago.
Sharapova was nominated alongside American stars including Kim Clijsters and Patrick McEnroe as part of the Class of 2025.
But her induction at the home of the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, took a star-studded turn when, in a surprise move, her old sparring partner Serena Williams arrived to deliver it.
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Williams paid tribute to their historic rivalry in her speech which paid tribute to Sharapova’s ‘relentlessness’, as well as her delight in discovering their friendship after they both stepped away from competing against one another on court.
‘We left everything out on the lines of the court every single match,’ she said. ‘We both hated to lose more than anything on this earth.
‘We both knew that the other was the biggest obstacle between ourselves and the trophy. That’s the root of how we got here.’
References
- ^ David Beckham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Aryna Sabalenka (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Wimbledon (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Jimmy Kimmel (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Maria Sharapova (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ previously teamed up the former England superstar (www.dailymail.co.uk)