Serena Williams wasn’t happy with claims made by one of her old rivals.

Serena Williams wasn’t happy with claims Maria Sharapova made in her autobiography (Image: Getty)

During their playing days, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova had one of the fiercest rivalries in tennis. Sharapova burst onto the scene when she was just 17 years old, upsetting Williams to win her first Major title at Wimbledon.

While their competition was always hyped up, their rivalry became very one sided – Williams won 20 of their 22 matches. Sharapova later claimed that the American “hated” her for being the “skinny kid who beat her”. But Williams had none of it, calling Sharapova out.

Sharapova was just 17 years old when she won her first of five Major titles at Wimbledon in 2004, upsetting Williams in the final. Serena and her sister Venus had been the only players to lift the trophy at the All England Club in the 21st century until Sharapova’s triumph.

The teenager breezed past Williams, winning 6-1 6-4. Sharapova also beat Williams at the WTA Finals later that year. But she never won another match against the 23-time Major winner.

By the time they retired, Williams led their head-to-head record 20-2, but Sharapova always thought the American held a grudge against her and claimed she caught her rival crying in the locker room way back in 2004.

In her 2017 autobiography, she wrote: “I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all the odds, at Wimbledon.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have since put their beef behind them (Image: Getty)

“I think she hated me for taking something that she believes belongs to her. I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment. But mostly I think she hated me for hearing her cry. She’s never forgiven me for it.”

When asked about Sharapova’s claims, Williams quickly called out the Russian for writing “hearsay” and being “negative”.

The 23-time Major winner was out of competition when Sharapova released her book in 2017, as she took a pregnancy break. When she returned to action the following year, Williams was question over Sharapova’s claims.

“I think the book was 100 per cent hearsay,” she stated. “At least all the stuff I read and the quotes I read, which was a little bit disappointing.”

Williams confirmed she had cried in the locker room “many times after a loss” but said it was normal for players to do and showed their passion. She continued: “It’s a Wimbledon final so I think it would be more shocking if I wasn’t in tears.”

While the 43-year-old didn’t deny that she cried after the loss, she wasn’t happy with the “not-so-positive way” Sharapova presented their rivalry in her autobiography.

The five-time Grand Slam champion defended her account of their competition, saying it would be “strange” not to include Williams in her story, but the American still wasn’t happy.

“So I don’t have any negative feelings towards her, which again, was a little disappointing to see in that hearsay book,” Williams added.

“So I have always, you know, and especially having a daughter, like, I feel like negativity is taught. One of the things I always say, I feel like women, especially, should bring each other up.”

However, Williams and Sharapova appeared to have buried the hatchet. They now enjoy catching up at high-profile events like the Met Gala and, last year, Williams said it was never personal between them.