INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME

August 23, 2025

Bob Bryan

Mike Bryan

Maria Sharapova

Enshrinement Ceremony

BRETT HABER: Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and welcome to beautiful Newport, Rhode Island. Tonight we honor three new legends: Maria Sharapova, whose fearless play and global impact captivated a generation. And Bob and Mike Bryan, the most accomplished doubles team in history, whose brotherhood raised the bar for all who followed.

They're ready to take their place in history.

I'm joined tonight by two champions whose legacies helped shape the standard we celebrate tonight and bring a personal connection to our incoming enshrinees.

Give a round of applause to Martina Navratilova and Andy Roddick.

Martina, few athletes have left a mark on both singles and doubles the way you have, you and Pam Shriver redefined what a partnership at the highest level looks like, just as Bob and Mike did in their era. Of course, your Grand Slam titles were so numerous that they're impossible to count. You won a Grand Slam title in mixed doubles with Bob.

When you watch the Bryan brothers, what stands out most about their legacy and how they elevated doubles?

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA: They specialized on it. They worked so hard on it. I have seen them practice. The intensity they had on the practice court was no different than what they had playing matches. Consummate professionals. They worked hard at it. Perfect technique. They worked together. I mean, they're twins so they should get along pretty well.

They just took it to a whole new level and really set the tone for doubles specialists.

BRETT HABER: Andy, you came up in the same era as our new enshrinees. What made them so effective, not just on the court but in a way that made their personality sort of resonate with tennis fans?

ANDY RODDICK: I said today when we were doing our show here, I said a lot of us grandstand on making the game better, right? Giving something back... Most of it's lip service from a lot of us, a lot of the time.

Bob and Mike, every single week, clinics, autographs, high-fives, promoting the game. It was the same when they were 17, and it was the same long after I was done playing, right?

From a Davis Cup, if you would ask me what my favorite viewing experience was in a given year, it probably wasn't watching another match at that point, that's the last thing you want to do when you're an active player. Every single Tuesday of every single Davis Cup tie, I would sit and watch these guys work on their craft.

It was amazing to watch. The unspoken chemistry, the same thing over and over and over and over until it wasn't possible for their muscles to do anything differently. Just respect. I was lucky to see it with my own eyeballs.

BRETT HABER: Martina, you were a pioneer in so many ways. One of them was making it okay to be fierce and strong and relentless and a woman without sacrificing your authenticity. I think a lot of those things have been said over the years about Maria. Do you feel she picked up the baton in that area?

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA: Well, Maria took it a whole new level. I was just trying to do the best that I could. It wasn't easy to be strong and competitive. When you talk about women, Oh, she's so competitive, it's a bad thing. When they talk about Rafael Nadal, He's so competitive, it's a great thing.

Maria was that. She was competitive on every point, whether it was the first point of the match or the last one. The intensity, she took it to a whole new level.

But I cannot compete with her dresses (smiling). I have a dress out there actually, a Ted Tinling creation. In fact, my wife almost threw out a box of Ted Tinling dresses just last week.

BRETT HABER: Oh, no, no. We'll take those off your hand for the museum.

Andy, tell us something about Bob and Mike that might not be evident to those who didn't know them as well as you did.

ANDY RODDICK: Mike, you keep saying, Bob, are you okay? You should say, Mike, are you okay? The stomach isn't the most solid thing I've ever seen pre Davis Cup ties (laughter).

It's a tricky question because a lot of people would think a lot of the positive things that they should. I think what I can say is that's it, right? The enthusiasm that they have, the way that they show.

They tell a better story than you all would maybe realize. When they start going after each other, I would pay admission to see it.

Listen, all three of you are just such champions. You've added so much to this game of tennis. I know I speak for all of us: we're so happy to be here for you.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA: 100%. Not too many athletes transcend their sport. For the twins to do it, as doubles players, that's amazing. And Maria took it to, yeah, a global level. Fantastic stuff.

BRETT HABER: Martina, Andy, thank you for those reflections.

Please welcome Hall of Fame president, Patrick McEnroe.

PATRICK MCENROE: When we launched Letters to Greatness, we hoped to create space for fans to be able to share what these players have meant to them, not just as tennis players, athletes, but as role models, game changers and inspirations.

Now in their own words, from young players to lifelong fans, here are just a few voices that wanted to say thank you to Mike, Bob and Maria.

(Video Shown.)

BRETT HABER: Greatness, as you know, is measured by the lives that it inspires. Few left a deeper mark than Bob and Mike Bryan. As we get set now to induct our first two members of the class of 2025, let's look back at the journey that turned their brotherhood into history.

(Video Shown.)

BRETT HABER: To induct Bob and Mike Bryan tonight is the man who helped guide their greatest years -- partner, mentor, and witness to many record-breaking milestones. Please welcome their longtime coach and great friend, Dave Macpherson.

DAVE MACPHERSON: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. How I wish I could borrow Brett Haber's voice (smiling).

When Bob and Mike asked me to present this introduction, I was touched, honored, and I must admit I've written here a little nervous, perhaps a lot nervous might be a better description as I'm feeling right now. I promise you this will be an organic, wood racquet introduction, not ChatGPT.

In the summer of 2005, Wayne and Kathy Bryan asked me to embark on a trial with the boys for the U.S. summer events. They won DC. When they made it to their fourth Grand Slam final of the year, having lost the previous three, we all felt the pressure.

Mike dubbed it as we're on the verge of an anti-slam. Kind of felt like the Buffalo Bills. Sorry, my apologies (smiling).

Despite all that pressure, they played an amazing final, came up clutch and blitzed great rivals Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi to win their first US Open in 2005.

Had they not won that final, I'm quite sure the boys would still be standing here today, but I might not be the one delivering the introduction (smiling).

For the next 15 years it was my honor to be in the trenches with Mike and Bob, who became affectionately know in my inner circle, including John Isner, Justin Gimelstob, and Jimmy Arias, as the Navy SEALs of tennis.

For starters, they were fiercely patriotic, and they always found the extra level of desperation and resilience when representing the USA.

Navy SEALs are world renowned for their intensive training. The boys prepared for battle by pushing each other to the physical and psychological limit every single practice session. In battle, they were unyielding, courageous and clutch.

They also sacrificed their time and effort in the protection of others. They created the Bryan Brothers Foundation early in their careers, and it continues to benefit many charities to this day, especially the inspiring Children's Foundation in Las Vegas.

Although they were difficult to tell apart in appearance, on the court they had unique strengths. Bob's lefty serve and forehand were lethal weapons. Mike, as Bob said to me recently, he doesn't remember Mike missing a volley in 15 years.

Mike was a magician at getting rid of the ball at the net, yet seemingly never missing one.

Mike's return was his other signature shot. The combination of him getting it by the net man and at the server's toes, coupled with Bob being the greatest poacher I've ever seen, made for the deadliest 1-2 punch in doubles returning.

Like most great champions, their legacy can't be measured in achievements alone. They were beloved by fans in every country and were always the one to sign every autograph asked of them after practice, as Andy alluded to.

Wayne and Kathy taught them well from an early age. If anyone has been here at the Hall of Fame weekend, you know that still holds true to this day. They're always there for the fans, giving back to the game.

I also need to mention that they won the ATP Fans' Favourite doubles award 14 times.

Bob and Mike were also the face of doubles for the best part of two decades, championing the sport of doubles through some very challenging times.

In addition to being champion athletes, they are also wonderful husbands to Michelle and Nadia, and loving fathers to Micaela, Bobby Jr., Richie, Jake and Tommy.

So with that said, it is with deepest gratitude and lots of love, I present to you my Navy SEALs, and the greatest doubles team of all time, Mike and Bob Bryan.

MIKE BRYAN: Bob had a countdown app on his phone, it was on the front page of his phone. He showed me in January. It said 250 days out. When we get to a hundred, I'm going to be freaking out. That alarm just went off in the hallway. We're out of time, we're here and we're freaking out (laughter).

BOB BRYAN: And we're freaking out.

MIKE BRYAN: I never teared up in any trophy ceremony or anything. Won 119 trophies and never teared up. That got me. The video got me.

It's great to be here. First I just want to say thanks to the International Tennis Hall of Fame for this incredible honor. We've been blown away by the last 48, 72 hours. It's been such a ride. So thank you, guys. Thanks Dan, Patrick, Kim, Jeff, Anne Marie and your whole staff for making this journey to Newport so special.

We also want to congratulate Maria on a legendary career. It's been a lot of fun, a privilege to share the class with you. Congratulations.

BOB BRYAN: So yeah, it was 30 years ago this month that Mike and I won Kalamazoo as two scrawny 17-year-old boys. That earned us a wild card into the big show, the US Open.

When we showed up on-site, security wouldn't let us through the front gates because we looked more like ballkids than actual real players.

Somehow we finally got inside those gates and we were in heaven. We were cruising in the locker room, trying to play cool, rubbing shoulders with our heroes: Andre, Pete and Jim. It took everything we had not to go up and get autographs (smiling).

MIKE BRYAN: As Bob and I stand here in this sacred place before you all, so many legends of the sport, we're feeling the exact same emotions we felt then: an overwhelming sense of awe and gratitude, feeling like this whole thing is a big dream.

In this sport, nobody makes it alone. Behind every successful player is a village. We're very blessed to have an extraordinary one.

BOB BRYAN: Our college coach, Dick Gould, is here with us. Under his leadership, Stanford captured 17 national titles. To be part of that legacy was a dream.

Coach, we were lucky to learn from you on the farm. Your mantra was simple: be proud but never satisfied. We carried that with us on tour. It kept us hungry, even in the good times. Coach, after facing those rabid Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, the Davis Cup road ties felt like pickle ball at the park (smiling).

MIKE BRYAN: We have to thank our childhood buddy and our agent, John Tobias. Thanks for everything, John. It's only fitting that, having to put up with us for 25 years, you had identical twin boys, too. He told me the other night that every time you put your twins to sleep, you put them in different cribs, zip them up, but miraculously every time you come in in the morning, they're sleeping side by side to each other in the same crib. So now you know how unique this twin thing is. Our parents said we did the exact same thing. I don't know if you have a twin curse or if you're blessed. Thanks, John.

BOB BRYAN: When we were 10 years old, we watched Ricky Leach, Jay Berger and the U.S. Davis Cup team take on Mexico in San Diego. That moment lit a fire in us that never went out. Captain McEnroe, Captain Courier, every time we suited up to play for you guys, that was the most important day of our lives. The intensity, passion, the pride of playing for our country, there's no greater honor.

Thank you for believing in us and giving us an opportunity to be part of something that's so much bigger than ourselves.

MIKE BRYAN: Thank you to all of our Davis Cup teammates. Andy and James are here. So great to have you guys in the house. I remember in Portland serving out the match for the Cup. I looked to the sidelines, Andy was already tearing up. Just shows how special that moment was to all of us.

It's still very clear in my mind. We dog-piled on the court, ran around the court with the flag. There was confetti everywhere. I don't want to name names, but I saw a couple guys sipping out of the Cup. Rhymes with candy (laughter).

That was an awesome night until Andy tapped me on the shoulder at 3 a.m. and told me I had to play the dead rubber early that morning. I fought valiantly, but safe to say I didn't win that match (smiling).

Macker, you couldn't have joined our team at a better time. As you said, we lost a bunch of Grand Slam finals in a row. We were playing for that anti-slam. I remember before the US Open final there, we were really nervous. You gave us one of your classic pregame speeches. You were so calm. You said, Hey, boys, nothing of value is ever given to you. You got to go out there and seize it, be the alpha dogs, play free, and don't forget to bring that powerful twin energy.

BOB BRYAN: That mindset helped us play one of the best matches of our life. We want onto finish No. 1 the next 10 years with Macker by our side. Macker never complained. He worked as hard as we did, if not harder. Always infused our team with positivity and optimism. Macker, we were lucky to call you our coach, and more importantly our friend. Thank you.

MIKE BRYAN: We're also very fortunate to have a few other coaches and mentors who had a huge impact on us. Can't name them all today. But Phil Farmer is here. He helped us break through, win our first slam, the French Open, hit No. 1 for the first time. We were all young kids when we started together. We called ourselves the Wolf Pack. Thanks for being here, Phil. Thanks, Wolfy.

BOB BRYAN: Dave Marshall, who helped us have a resurgence at the end of our career, kept believing in us when I was popping Advil and hobbling around on a metal hip.

Mark Bey, who has been helping us since we were teenagers, been there for so many great moments, big matches. Thanks, Mark.

MIKE BRYAN: Doubles was our love from day one. Each and every day we worked hard on our reflex volleys, our soft hands. We studied the great teams like the Woodies. Our dad would even sit us down, make us watch some of that old black-and-white, grainy footage from the '30s of Bob Lutz and Stan Smith. Stan is here today, one of the all-time greats. Stan Smith, he just told me inside that my shoe that we did a signature, Bryan Brothers K-Swiss shoe, it looks too much like his shoe. He's in the process of suing us right now (laughter).

But we loved everything about doubles. We loved the strategy, the teamwork, sharing in the highs and lows. Like our personalities, are our games complemented each other perfectly. Our superpower was our energy. Whether it was jamming music in hotel rooms or playing on some of the biggest stadiums in tennis, when our energy was locked on, we felt like an unstoppable force.

BOB BRYAN: For most of my career, I had the No. 1 player in the world living across the hall. If I was ever feeling lazy, Mike would drag me off the couch and get me on the court. We built a gym at home in our garage. Our trainer, Gary Paul, who's here, hung a huge sign on that wall that said "No Off-Season." We didn't take vacations. We missed our best friend's wedding. Sometimes we even missed funerals to chase this dream.

We kept the bar high for a long time. It wasn't always easy, but we had each other. That always made the wins so much sweeter and the losses easier to bear.

MIKE BRYAN: Now to my wife and mother of our two little boys, Jake and Tommy. Your love and constant support holds our family together. You're the true hero because you hold down the fort when I'm on the road. You do it so effortlessly. Nadia, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for being here.

BOB BRYAN: When I was about 14 years old, my mom would call me down to her lesson court at the club so I could help her demonstrate the serve to a little nine-year-old girl who was also left-handed. I eventually brought that little lefty with me on tour for over a decade. Together we now have three beautiful little right-handers, Micaela, Bobby and Richie.

Michelle, words don't do you justice, but thank you for sacrificing your career to support mine, for giving me the most beautiful thing and most thing in my life: our family.

MIKE BRYAN: Mom and dad, this honor belongs to you as much as it does to us. You gave us everything you had. You never took a day off. Your love, your guidance -- you want to take it?

BOB BRYAN: You got it (smiling).

MIKE BRYAN: Your belief in us, it was always there. You guys built a world for us where tennis, it was never a job, it was never a grind. It was joy, it was fun, and most importantly it was family (tearing up).

BOB BRYAN: And our favorite memories aren't about the trophies. It's about playing Capture the Flag on the grass field of the club, about playing Time Zone at the end of clinic.

You go?

MIKE BRYAN: You go.

BOB BRYAN: About cramming the four of us into a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere. Sharing laughs over a late-night bowl of grits at the Waffle House. Listening to my dad's oldies on the radio and falling asleep in the backseat of the car on the long drive to the Fiesta Bowl. Doing what we love, together.

We always felt you there, whether it was a call for a quick tip on the volley, or an email after a heartbreaking loss in Shanghai. Your support always came at the perfect time and always gave us that boost that we needed.

MIKE BRYAN: Our home was a little different. We didn't have TV in our house. Instead we had musical instruments set up right in the middle of our living room, which filled our house with creativity. To this day, music has been a big part of our lives. It's allowed Bob and I to connect on a different level.

BOB BRYAN: Our parents had a vision that true success is not about wins and losses. It's about balancing all parts of life. It's about making learning enjoyable and motivating through fun. Playing before teaching.

Now that we're parents and we have kids of our own, we understand how challenging and important that job is, and we understand how incredibly lucky we are to have you as our parents.

Thank you. Love you.

MIKE BRYAN: Tennis has always been more than a sport for us. It's been a mirror for our lives. At one time we were little boys chasing Agassi through a parking lot for an autograph. Years later we were staring him down from across the net.

We idolized the Jensen brothers and we practiced their chest bump in our bedroom. And that same chest bump became what tennis fans remember us by.

BOB BRYAN: At 12 years old we went to a national camp in Key Biscayne, Florida, coached by captain Tom Gullikson. A few months ago I took my son Bobby to a camp in Orlando. There was Gully teaching Bobby the same lessons he taught us.

That is tennis. It stays with you. Tennis gets in your blood. It connects generations. Somehow it all comes full circle.

MIKE BRYAN: Each day when we made that seven-minute drive to the Cabrillo Racquet Club, if our dad ever saw a piece of trash on the side of the road, he would pull the car over, we'd jump out, we'd pick it up. He'd often say to us, always leave the campsite cleaner than when you found it.

BOB BRYAN: Mike and I have tried to live by this rule, not just on the side of the road, but with the tennis fans, with our foundation. We've tried to give back to the sport that has given us so much.

We hope in some small way we've left the tennis campsite a little cleaner and a little bit better than we found it (tearing up).

MIKE BRYAN: You're done (smiling). He's done.

So thank you again to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This has been a ride of a lifetime. Literally one of the coolest days of our lives. Thank you all for being here to share it with us.

I know we ran out of time, but we have time for one final chest bump (laughter).

BRETT HABER: Hall of Famers Bob and Mike Bryan.

Ladies and gentlemen, to present Maria Sharapova with her Hall of Fame racquet and to welcome her into tennis immortality is someone whose epic battles with her helped define a generation of women's tennis and whose friendship has blossomed through mutual respect. Please welcome to the stage, 23-time major champion, Serena Williams.

SERENA WILLIAMS: All right. Surprise (laughter).

I know I'm probably the last person you would be expecting to see here tonight, but honestly a few years ago I probably would have said the same thing.

But here's how it happened. A few months ago Maria texted me that she needed to talk. I thought, Uh-oh, what is going down, where do I jump in, what do I need to do.

When I called her, she asked me if I would introduce her into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Before she even finished her question, I said yes -- loud, immediately, with my whole chest -- because, of course, it's Maria. I was honored.

Let's be real. Maria and I once were the fiercest of rivals. We had our differences. To the world we looked miles and miles apart. The truth is, we weren't. We wanted the exact same thing at the exact same time: to be the very best.

Our sport, obviously one person can walk away with the trophy. What is wrong with wanting to be your best? Nothing. In fact, it's what drove us. That's what made our rivalry so electric and so iconic.

In 2004 when Maria was just 17 years old she stunned the world and won Wimbledon. To this day she calls it the highlight of her career. To this day, I call it one of my hardest losses.

The match didn't just make her a champion, it actually made her a star. It launched one of the most talked-about and controversial rivalries in tennis. For more than a decade and a half, every time we faced each other, the atmosphere shifted. It was thick. The tension was real. The fire was real. Honestly, you could feel it, and by the way, could you hear it with all Maria's grunting (laughter). Not mine, yours. I was just copying you (smiling).

But behind all that fire, there was something else. Even though we didn't talk about it, maybe we really couldn't back then, we really respected each other immensely. Because to survive at the very top of this sport, you need resilience, you need toughness, you need to show up every single day year after year. Maria did just that.

There are only a few players in my career who challenged me to be the very best every single time we stepped out on the court. Maria Sharapova was one of them.

Whenever I saw her name next to mine in the draw, I made sure I practiced harder (laughter). Okay, I mean, security? I have a heckler here (referring to Maria Sharapova). (Laughter.)

I focused more and I showed up with my A game because whatever her weakness was the match before, you better believe that was her strength the next time.

She was relentless about improving. I remember once running her left and right and left and right and left again. She just refused to give in. She went for everything. When the point was over, I finally looked over to see if I had tired her out. But nothing. Completely poised. If you didn't know better, you would have thought I was the one doing all the running at that point. Honestly, the next point I probably was.

She had this fierce never-give-up attitude, never surrender, that always kept you on your toes. I can't tell you how many times I was in the locker room watching her down a set in a break because I would have to play after her. Instead of warming up for my own match, I would literally just sit down, look at my coach, I would say, We're in for a long one, because Maria would come back every single time. She never quit. She never gave up.

Of course, you know I was mad I had to wait so long. More than once I wanted to tell Maria, Just win in straight sets. You know you're going to win anyway, do it already. Why are you torturing us out here?

But that was Maria. She was fierce, determined, uncompromising. She made you earn every single point.

So let me back up and address a little bit more the elephant in the room. How did we get here? How did I get her number? How did we go from the Wimbledon finals to this (laughter), me introducing her to the Hall of Fame?

Here is a short version. I think we have Anna Wintour to thank for that. Every year she hosted this little party call the Met Gala. Maybe you've heard of it? It is one of the most intimidating rooms you'll ever be in. Actors, musicians, designers, influencers, the crème de la crème. Everyone is dazzling, still you feel underdressed.

If you're an athlete, you eventually find other athletes in the room. And because you know each other and you're on the grind year after year, Maria and I found ourselves at the same tables at the same events, talking to each other a little bit more.

With no Grand Slams match the next day, our guards were down. Little by little, we started to see each other differently. One year was small talk. Another year was real conversation. Then one day it clicked. This person I spent years battling across the net, might we actually like each other? And we did.

One time a mutual friend of ours said, If we had met under different circumstances, we'd be great friends. I'm not going to tell you. That's after hours (smiling). You know who that was.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Why are you asking me this?

And they were right. This mystery person was right - that Maria knows.

Let's talk about Maria, the player and person. She was and, by the way, is the definition of professionalism. We had a call actually scheduled at 11:00 a.m., and she called me at 11:00 a.m. It wasn't 11:01. It wasn't 10:59. It was right on time. She was always on time, disciplined, right on the dot, always prepared. That's Maria.

When she stepped on court, she gave absolutely everything she had. Didn't matter if she was playing the world No. 1 or the world No. 300. She showed up with the same determination every single time. She didn't get caught up in the gossip and distraction. She wasn't swayed by the headlines. She was there for one reason: to be the best, win and compete.

That's exactly what she became. In 2005, just after one year after winning Wimbledon, Maria climbed to world No. 1. Think about that. A teenager less than 18 months removed from her breakthrough standing on top of the sport. That takes focus, fearlessness, confidence, which Maria has, and unbelievable discipline to rise that fast. She never let go of that standard. I always admired that.

She went on to win Wimbledon, the US Open, Australian Open, and eventually she mastered the surface that humbled her most: the clay. In fact, I would always tell myself, Give 100% like Maria. Focus, focus, focus. If she can do it, you can.

Yes, Maria, you were inspiration to me. Without even knowing it, you always inspired me when I went out there because I knew if I could just focus like you, I could do well and I could win. So thank you so much for that.

Maria's journey on clay simply made me better. Maria once famously said she felt like a cow on ice playing on clay. I'm sorry, but I did play you before once on clay, and you weren't wrong (laughter).

Here is the difference. Maria did not accept that as a weakness. Quietly behind the scenes she made it her single most important mission. She turned her greatest vulnerability into her greatest weapon. She took that legendary mental toughness, the same toughness she showed every opponent, and she pointed it right at the clay till it gave in. She conquered it not once, but twice. Two French Open titles. That's who Maria is: make your weakness your strength. That's her legacy.

The more I've gotten to know Maria, the more I realize how much we share. Champions actually always have a lot in common. I once asked her how does she celebrate her wins. And she looked at me and she said, Celebrate? What does that even mean?

She was always focused on the next goal, the next title, the next challenge. Honestly, that sounded a little too familiar. When I asked her if she celebrated her retirement, she shot back, Did you? We both laughed because, no, we both knew that without answering, that neither one of us did.

Champions do not live in the rearview mirror. We do not look back. We keep going. We keep adapting and thinking about our next win. Champions move forward. Champions live in the present. Maria was and is the personification of that.

Maria's impact goes far understand beyond the court. She won five Grand Slam titles, and that's what we call the career Grand Slam, which is something only a handful of players are able to do.

She became the world No. 1 at just 18 years old, something I never did. She held that spot for 21 weeks in her career. Maria won 36 WTA titles, earned over $38 million in prize money and spent more than a decade ranked inside the top 10. Also a 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist.

Beyond the numbers, Maria was the most recognized and admired athlete on the planet. She was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 straight years. She showed us all how to take excellence on the court and turn it into excellence in business and fashion and branding and everything that she touched. She inspired young girls around the globe, inspired them that if she can do it, they can do it, too.

She changed how women not only approached tennis, but sport, and opportunity. She showed us that you can be fierce on the court and strategic off the court and unapologetically yourself the entire time. She always did it with her head high, proud, strong, classy and, yes, with that signature grunt.

Today her biggest joy is not only a trophy, but her son, Theodore. She's taken that same focus and fire and poured it into being a great mom -- steady, calm and thoughtful. She actually reminds me a lot of Venus, the more I get to know her.

Maria is honest. She gets to the point quickly. She's earnest, loyal, family oriented. At her core, she's just a great person. If I didn't know her better, I think she could have been my sister. The yin to my yang, the calm to my storm. So don't be surprised when I'm calling her with all the dramas in my life, because that's what's sisters do.

What started as a rivalry turned into an enormous amount of respect. What grew from respect has turned to friendship. Like I said, champions adjust. Maria didn't just win matches, she built a legacy that will last forever.

Last year I asked Maria to be my tennis ball. I think this is her way of saying yes. So tonight is my honor as her former rival, former fan, now her forever friend, and one of the world's greatest sports heroes of all times and champions, to welcome Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: She forgot to give me the trophy (laughter). God forbid Serena gives me the trophy. I'll just take it myself.

Whew, I am 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 realized it was really game on. Serena, I thought that maybe today you would 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. If I'm being honest, spent most of the time gossiping. I wish I could tell you what we gossiped about, but we'll save that for later.

Later that evening I received a message from Serena as a follow-up. She says, One last thing. In your words, how did we get here?

So I thought it would be fitting to answer that today in front of all of you.

I want to go back a little bit, longer than we both probably want to admit. I'll never forget Serena's quote after the Wimbledon final in 2004. It was the New York Times. She said, She's kind of like me. She doesn't back off. She keeps giving it her all.

As an athlete and a competitor, I've always found it hard to admit when other players shared any of my best qualities. When it came to Serena, it was especially difficult because I recognized that she shared many of those qualities. She capitalized on them, as well, if not better than I did.

She certainly has the trophies to show us.

Serena did more than just sharpen my game. She helped crystallize my sense of identity as a competitor. It's a gift to have someone who motivates you to reach those heights. I'll forever, forever be grateful for her bringing out the best in me, which she really did.

We have always shared a deep, mutual respect for and understanding of one another. 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 both made countless unspoken sacrifice to give us a chance at greatness. I had a front row seat into how dedicated they were into making us champions.

Once we fulfilled that potential, we knew no other way than to fight our hearts out. 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. We both knew that 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. But once all was said and done, once the lights dimmed on our careers, they locked the gates behind us, we brought our guards down. I'm grateful, I'm so deeply grateful, for you being here for friendship. This means the world to me, more than you'd ever know. Thank you. Thank you so much.

To everyone else joining us here in beautiful Newport this weekend, let me start by saying that I'm so humbled to be standing in front of you today to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside the legends of our sport. It's truly the honor of a lifetime. Bob and Mike, congratulations on an exceptional career. If only I had your volleys, my father just would be thrilled, thrilled. Till this day he asks, When are you going to serve and volley?

I was always excited to navigate this Hall of Fame journey alongside you both. But after getting to know you both in the last few months, I feel even more strongly that it's a privilege to share the stage with you today. Thank you for making it so much fun.

A couple of months ago when I started thinking about how I wanted this weekend to look like, I sent a note to all of my team members from throughout my career. I expected about half of them to join. Much to my and the organizers' surprise, there's about 95% acceptance rate. It's really important that I start with a few of those thank yous.

Max, you had a little more hair when we first met. Didn't you? He confirms. I apologize. You played a role that was so much more significant than what's written on your résumé. You were my shield. The ultimate punching bag. Someone who unapologetically said no on my behalf over and over again.

You also had to fire Jimmy Connors, which is a task no one wants to be responsible for (smiling). After every match I played, you were the first message I received. The message was consistently, You are a champion, after every single match. He didn't skip a beat. Even on the occasions when I didn't play like one.

On those occasions, Max could usually be found at the French Open waffle stand, which he single-handedly kept in business every single year. Whether I won or lost, he was the first in line to order. When every Frenchman was eating crepes, Max was killing the waffles.

Dad, we really did this together, didn't we? I was a little nervous when my dad told me he was going to choose a suit for today without any supervision. But you look good. I approve (smiling). It's always a scary thought as a daughter.

I am such a lucky girl to have navigated this journey under your wings. When no one believed we could, you always did. You had conviction in your decisions and you never looked back. You were tough. You were tough. You repeatedly expected me to raise my standards.

But along the way you never forgot your most important role: to be my father. It is a gift I am deeply grateful for. Thank you.

To my mom, 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 purchased when we earned our big paycheck. You are 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. I'm so lucky to call you my best friend.

My love, you're next. You have 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 that you pulled me out of that comfort zone.

You also taught me that, much to my surprise, a vodka tonic is not shaken. Thank you very much. I drink a lot more these days (laughter). And so does someone else in the crowd.

You have contributed to one of the greatest gifts of our lives, our little son, Theo. I am such a lucky girl to share this feature with you, to share all the twists and turns of this thing called life. Thank you.

Mauricio, you are the OG. I'll never forget how after the semifinals at Wimbledon, you looked straight at me and said, From now on, put on your horse blinders and only look straight ahead. I never look them off for the rest of my career. I thank you for that gift.

Thomas, winning the French Open together was one of the highlights of my career. When no one believed I could do it, you always, always did. You still feel I could win a couple French Opens. You also gave Alexander the greatest gift he's ever received: Bjorn Borg underwear. The day they met... a little skeptical.

Yutaka, you are the kindest soul, the definition of a team story. The team took a two-day break and went to Vegas together. While Sven and Diddy were opening up their beer bottles, Yutaka pulled out his humidifier and took a bath. Please never change, Yutaka.

Cecil, the definition of a hitting partner is one that is tough to describe. The role often falls somewhere between assistant coach and human punching bag. You handled it with such grace. You never, ever complained. You were small but mighty. You taught me the art of having to hit another ball. Boy, was that lesson important when we won our French Open together. Thank you.

Alex K, you joined my team during the toughest moment in my career, and you did so with no hesitation. You left the comfort of your home. You said good-bye to your wife in Dallas and you went all in.

I'll try not to take it personally that you were more excited about the message I received from Tiger Woods after that first round at the 2017 US Open than the actual fact that I won the match. Thank you for teaching me the rules of American football, which since I've forgotten. I do know that the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl while we were working together. I still do consider myself the lucky charm. So you're welcome. Go Birds. I did it for Alex.

Jerome, your work ethic was contagious. Nothing and no one would discourage you. Your brutal honesty was a quality I learned to respect. I remember you once told me I was out of shape and I had a little bit of cellulite. Because of that I got in the best shape of my life and went on to win the French Open. But I still had cellulite, so c'est la vie.

Marcin, you took on the role of my physio when my body was shattered. You taught me that the body was a product of my habits and discipline. You corrected my biodynamics, my diet and recovery, and you took no shortcuts in getting me back on track.

We listen and reviewed dozens of podcasts on that massage table. Some were better than others. You watched me shed many tears on that table. You never, ever cast judgment. In hindsight it's the best gift you ever gave me. Thank you.

Ricarrdo, you made me fall back in love with the game of tennis. Even more importantly, the intensity of the process, during a time when I didn't have much left in my tank. You and Gaia welcomed me with open arms. My only regret is that we didn't meet sooner.

To everyone who has played a role in my journey, including the fans who lived and breathed my career, so many of you around the world, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You believed in me before I had anything to offer in return. I'm forever grateful for your support.

While I'm not someone who makes a habit of looking backwards, the magnitude of this moment has made me reflect on everything that's led me here and how it can inform of what comes next, always looking ahead.

My journey was a windy one, one complete with the highest of highs, lowest of lows, and all of 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.

If there's any single quality that I can guide you to greatness in the absence of that playbook, I believe it's grit. So much of what shapes the very best happens far from the cameras. Those dewy mornings on the practice courts, the late nights poring over technical film. I disliked that so much. Replaying the critical points in your head over and over again. The fine-tuning repeated until muscle memory finally overrides any hesitation.

The world recognizes the trophies, the Grand Slams, the fanfare, the Centre Court glory. I'd be lying if I said that stuff didn't matter. Let's be honest, I wouldn't be here without them.

But in hindsight, my favorite moments were always the quiet victories, the ones only a few people beyond my inner circle could see. Those small triumphs stacked up and became the foundation that steadied me in moments when everything was on the line.

Through it all, a small persistent voice urged me forward, even in instances where logic and outside influences would have had me give up. I often leaned into this quiet certainty, which I've since come to recognition as self-conviction, and discovered an inner resilience that outlasted doubt and drowned out skepticism. This belief gave me the strength I needed to keep moving, keep reaching, fighting until it was really, really over.

Of course, that didn't mean I never came up short, because being human means making mistakes. Sometimes very costly ones. But allowing space for your limitations offers its own kind of strength. It's an accepting imperfection where change really takes shape. It's never about avoiding the hard things altogether, it's about the way you respond to it.

When I look back at photos or videos of me on the court, it's the one thing I notice: the relentless pursuit of improvement regardless of any circumstances. That was the true heartbeat of my game. I was never the fastest or the strongest, and I certainly wasn't the best mover. Max oftentimes reminded me of that.

But when you fine-tune your mental fortitude, you can transcend the limits of your body every single time. And my fist pump was the physical expression of that idea. It was less of a celebration than a symbol of persistence. It was rarely for show. Occasionally for show, especially when I played you (Serena). I was like, Is she looking now (smiling)?

It was always a promise to myself. In the moments when matches shifted, when doubts crept in, when the lights felt too bright, and the weight of the moment felt too heavy, that little ritual belonged to me and me alone. It was a reminder that I am both capable of making it happen and will stop at nothing until I do. It was self-conviction and poise bottled up into one tight fist.

If there's anything to take away from the speech, I hope it's this: embrace the struggles and lean into the hard stuff, trust your instinct, and rely on that resilience. I promise you you'll surprise yourself.

When voices inevitably tell us to ease up, to round your edges, dull your ambition, I hope you can find a way to ignore them. Compete fiercely, raise your standard, set goals that intimidate you, and don't forget to celebrate your victories no matter how small.

When you're facing setbacks, ask a lot of questions and look inside for those answers. And yes, pump that fist, whatever your personal version is, as a reminder of how unstoppable you are.

I said it once, and it rings even truer now: in giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. What a remarkable, remarkable life. I am so deeply grateful for it.

Thank you.

BRETT HABER: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us. Tonight Maria, Bob and Mike joined a lineage of greatness stretching back over a century, honoring the past and igniting the future. Thank you all so much for being such a fantastic crowd and a part of our celebration. We'll see you back here next year for the Class of 2026.