#serena-williams

#serena-williams

Big trust on both sides like, really, full trust. We were feeding each other in terms of motivation. I [knew] her perfectly, how to push her, motivate her, provoke her to be more competitive. We got started during a difficult period. She hadn't won a grand slam for two years and suffered a first-round loss in a slam for the first time in her career [to Virginie Razzano at the 2012 French Open].

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, Williams said. Maria Sharapova was one of them. Whenever I saw her name next to mine in the draw, I made sure I practiced harder. And the feeling was mutual. It's a gift to have someone who motivates you to reach those heights. And I'll forever be grateful for bringing out the best in me,

This includes mentorship, funding, and strong belief.

Serena remembers being shorter and weaker and resorting to cheating on line calls at practice so she could occasionally beat her.

If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.