Before the US Open gets underway, one of its past winners received a special honour.
Maria Sharapova retired from tennis in 2020 and five years later she has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Russian claimed five Grand Slam titles in her career and in 2004, she stunned Serena Williams to become the third-youngest woman to win Wimbledon, at the age of just 17.
Speaking of Williams, she gave a touching speech at the ceremony of her former rival, who Sharapova defeated to win the 2004 WTA Finals.
Maria Sharapova urged fans to watch the players practice when they attend the US Open
While at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, Maria Sharapova spoke to reporters.
She was asked what advice she would share with fans who are going to watch a Grand Slam for the first time.
Sharapova, who made 58 appearances in the main draw of Grand Slam events, urged fans to go and watch the players practice.
“Go watch them practice. I think practices are just so interesting to learn about kind of the process, right, and then also the dynamic with the team,” the former world number one said.
“It’s one of the few times where you can actually see how the player interacts with the team and what’s their — because now teams are larger and a lot more people are involved.
“Maybe when I played, the coach was the main voice, right, and everyone else did their thing.
“Like the physio treated after. You did fitness with whoever. But now it’s all very collaborative.
“Everyone has something to say, whether it’s good or bad, but that’s something that I’ve seen shift.
“I think to watch the dynamic, and that’s where — I think that’s where victories are built. I would say, yeah, spend a lot of time there.”
What is Maria Sharapova’s US Open record?
Sharapova made 13 appearances at the US Open between 2003 and 2019.
The former world number one won 38 matches and lost 12, which gives her a win percentage of 76%.
Her best result came in 2006, when she claimed her lone US Open title as the third-highest seeded player in the draw.
Sharapova was dominant in New York that year, as she went on to lift the trophy after dropping just one set through the tournament.
Sharapova defeated Justin Henin 6-4, 6-4 to seal what was her first Grand Slam win on a hard court. Two years later, she claimed her second by capturing the Australian Open title.
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