In Pictures: Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova turn heads in stylish looks at The Fashion Awards 2024 in London
Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova donned contrasting yet stunning looks at the Fashion Awards 2024 in London on Monday, December 2. While Williams went with all black, Sharapova chose off-white.
Williams, at 44 years old, is yet to call time on her illustrious career that has seen her win 49 WTA Tour-level titles, including seven singles Major titles. The former World No. 1 has also won four Olympic gold medals, with her singles success coming at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She won the other three alongside legendary sister Serena in women's doubles (2000 Sydney Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, and 2012 London Olympics).
Sharapova, another former World No. 1, is 37. The Russian retired from tennis in 2020, bidding farewell to a career that yielded five singles Grand Slam titles. She is among the ten women who completed the Career Grand Slam, winning each of the four Majors at least once.
Apart from being iconic names in tennis, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova have also established themselves as fashion symbols and have become fixtures at the world's biggest fashion events. Recently, on Monday, December 2, the pair headed to London's Royal Albert Hall for The Fashion Awards 2024.
Williams wore a black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and paired it with Capri-length trousers. She also sported a wool coat featuring black leather trim. On the footwear front, the seven-time singles Major winner went with a pair of classic black pumps. Meanwhile, Sharapova kept things simple with an off-white coat and skirt look.
Back when both Sharapova and Williams were active on the WTA Tour, the pair faced each other on eight occasions, including the semifinals of the 2005 Wimbledon Championships.
Maria Sharapova retired with a 5-3 head-to-head win-loss record against Venus Williams
Maria Sharapova won five of her eight WTA Tour-level meetings against Venus Williams. However, arguably their most high-profile clash, in the 2005 Wimbledon Championships semifinals, went Williams' way [7-6(2), 6-1]. At the time, the Russian was the defending Wimbledon champion, having won the 2004 edition with a surprisingly straight-set win over Williams' sister Serena.
Sharapova and Williams' final meeting came in the third round of the 2013 Australian Open. On this occasion, the Russian comprehensively defeated the American 6-1, 6-3.
However, Sharapova's head-to-head record in her fierce rivalry with Serena Williams was woeful. While the former won two of their first three matches, including the 2004 Wimbledon final, the latter would go on to win all the nineteen more matches between them.