Serena Williams called what she read of Maria Sharapova‘s book “100 percent hearsay” and mentioned Sharapova’s doping ban twice while also saying she “doesn’t have any negative feelings” toward Sharapova, whom she deemed the favorite in their French Open fourth-round match Monday.
Williams spent about half of her nine-minute press conference after Saturday’s third-round win answering questions about Sharapova and their relationship.
Williams’ on-court credentials are unrivaled — 23 Grand Slam singles titles to Sharapova’s five and a 19-2 head-to-head record — but both have been among the marquee female athletes in fame and earning power over the last decade-plus, a stretch where they have previously verbally clashed.