World number one Serena Williams opines that her friendship with Maria Sharapova is difficult to maintain off court. The American and the Russian tennis superstars have never been exactly close friends and an exchange of stinging words during the Wimbledon season made things worse.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Williams allegedly made disparaging remarks about Sharapova and her current beau, Grigor Dimitrov. Sharapova responded back saying that Williams should rather focus on her alleged romantic relationship to current coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
“It’s very difficult I think for anyone to be best buddies when you’re so competitive,” Williams said in this week’s Brisbane International. “But I don’t have a problem with anyone. I get along with everyone. I have respect for people not only on the court but as well as off the court. I don’t have any problem when it comes to anything like that. I don’t take jabs or anything. I am who I am and I don’t hide anything. I’m totally fine.”
Williams and Sharapova will face off in the semifinals, their first since their 2013 French Open final encounter with the American winning.
