NEWPORT, R.I. — In an unexpected twist, Serena Williams appeared ahead of schedule at the International Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony, stepping out to introduce “former rival, former fan and forever friend” Maria Sharapova, who was being inducted on Saturday night.

Williams, who boasts 23 Grand Slam titles and will be eligible for her own Hall of Fame induction in 2027, surprised the audience at the Newport venue, leaving them gasping and cheering.

“Throughout my career, only a handful of players challenged me to be at my best every single time we competed,” Williams remarked. “Maria Sharapova was one of those players. Seeing her name in the lineup always made me train with extra determination.”

And the feeling was mutual.

In her acceptance speech, Sharapova expressed gratitude, saying, “Having someone who pushes you to excel is a true gift. I am forever thankful for the drive she instilled in me. We both played with full heart and fiercely avoided losing. We recognized that each other was the biggest hurdle to winning the trophies.”

Sharapova, the first Russian woman to achieve a No. 1 ranking and one of 10 women to earn a career Grand Slam, was inducted alongside the formidable doubles duo, Mike and Bob Bryan, in the Class of 2025. The twin brothers capped their speech with their signature chest bump.

The event was attended by Hall of Famers like Martina Navratilova, Jim Courier, Stan Smith, and Andy Roddick, who donned their blue Hall of Fame jackets. Sharapova and the Bryan brothers received a unique cast tennis racket, a new addition to the keepsakes given to inductees.

Sharapova was described in her introductory video as someone who “combined grit with glamour,” and some of the stylish outfits she competed in are already displayed in the hall — including a tuxedo-inspired dress she wore at Wimbledon in 2008.

Williams noted that her rival was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 straight years — bolstered by endorsement income that surpassed her on-court winnings.

“She showed us all how to take excellence on the court and turn it into excellence in business, and fashion, branding and everything that she touched,” Williams said. “She changed how women not only approached tennis, but sports and opportunity. She showed us that you can be fierce on the court and strategic off the court, and unapologetically herself the entire time.”

Sharapova said her induction gave her a chance to look back — something she tried not to do when she was playing. And she credited her success to “embracing the struggles and leaning into the hard stuff.”

“When voices inevitably tell you to ease up, to round your edges, dull your ambition, I hope you can find a way to ignore them,” she said. “Compete fiercely. Raise your standard. Set goals that intimidate you. And don’t forget to celebrate your victories, no matter how small.

“In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life,” she said. “And what a remarkable, remarkable life. And I’m so deeply grateful for it.”

The Bryans shared a speech as if they were taking turns hitting on a court, alternating at the microphone as they thanked coaches, friends and Davis Cup teammates from a career in which they won 119 ATP titles, including 16 Grand Slams, and an Olympic gold medal. They spent a record 438 weeks atop the world rankings.

Navratilova, who won the 2006 U.S. Open mixed doubles title with Bob Bryan, credited the brothers for keeping the doubles disciplines from being forgotten.

“Not too many athletes transcend their sport,” she said. “For twins to do it is amazing.”

Bob Bryan said he was fortunate because “for most of my career, I had the No. 1 player in the world across the hall.”

“Doubles was our love from Day 1,” Mike Bryan said. “We loved everything about doubles. We loved the strategy, the teamwork, sharing the highs and lows. Like our personalities, our games complemented each other perfectly.”

This story has been corrected to delete an erroneous reference to Sharapova winning Wimbledon in 2008. She won it in 2004.

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