Serena Williams reignites infamous ‘feud’ with Maria Sharapova as she shows off hidden talent on live TV as ESPY Awards
SERENA WILLIAMS cheekily sang a song for old rival Maria Sharapova at the ESPY Awards last night.
The tennis legend, 42, was in Los Angeles to host the prestigious evening, having won 12 ESPY gongs during her playing days.
During the evening, Williams referenced Jamie Foxx‘s outrageous performances from 2003 and 2004.
With the perennial champion in attendance on both occasions, Foxx serenaded her with his promiscuous “I wanna be your tennis ball” song.
Having hung up her racquet at the US Open in 2022, Williams found herself on hosting duties, rather than at Wimbledon, which hosted its women’s semi-finals yesterday.
Throwing back to Foxx’s performances for her, Williams revealed her hidden singing talent – but opted to serenade old rival Sharapova, rather than actor and performer.
Through laughter, she said: “We wanted to do another remix of Jamie’s beautiful and utterly unacceptable song.
“I dedicate this one to a very special person in my life… this one goes out to Maria Sharapova.”
Williams then launched into her performance, singing: “She could be my tennis ball. She’s Russian, blonde and very tall.
“People say we had a feud, which was presumptuous and kinda rude. Besides that I beat her 20 times.”
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Williams then referenced the recent blockbuster tennis film Challengers, which featured a love triangle between its main characters, played by Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist.
The 23-time singles Major champion went on: “She always gave me her best shot. We were like the guys in Challengers but way more hot.
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“So let me put this on the record. That she could be my tennis ball.”
Williams had the crowd, including sister Venus, in hysterics with her performance.
The American dominated her rivalry with Sharapova during her playing days, beating her 20 times in 22 meetings.
One of the Russian’s two victories came as a 17-year-old in the 2004 Wimbledon final.
In her 2017 memoir, entitled “Unstoppable”, Sharapova stoked the flames by claiming: “I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon.”
Since they both hung up their racquets, Williams and Sharapova have forged what had seemed an unlikely friendship.
The pair have been seen together at a series of fashion events, with their once frosty relationship having thawed in recent years.
Williams even told Harper’s Bazaar of Sharapova, 37: “We always love seeing each other.
“At the Met Gala, I literally was looking for her. I was like, “Where’s Maria? Where is she at?” I think she’s a super cool girl.”
