Watch: Maria Sharapova Honoured With Special Ring After Hall Of Fame Induction

Smoke cannons were lit as part of the celebrations before a red-carpet welcome was provided to the 38-year-old, who thanked her supporters for standing behind her throughout her career. “New York City, what a special place and special court. You people have made such an incredible impact on my journey and my career," said the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Sharapova reflected on her glorious 19-year career and how she became one of the top-most iconic figures in the sport.

Also, a pioneer in mixing fashion with sports, Sharapova successfully transitioned from the tennis court to the business world after calling it quits from professional tennis in 2020.

Between 2005 and 2015, she was marked as the highest-paid female athlete in the world.

The icon earned $29.7 million in 2015 alone and is hailed as an inspiration for young female tennis players.

While full of remarkable feats, Sharapova’s career wasn’t short of its fair share of controversies.

The much-admired athlete encountered heavy criticism when she served a 15-month suspension for unintentional doping.

Sharapova exhibited a strong and resilient character through that phase and kept giving her best on the court. The achievements speak volumes about the Russian, who turned pro at the age of 14 and won her first Wimbledon at 17.

On Sunday (August 24) Sharapova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and introduced to the league of legends by her former rival, Serena Williams.

Williams spoke warmly about Sharapova at the ceremony, which also highlighted how they’ve come to form a friendship over time. “Maria and I were once the fiercest of rivals. We had our differences. To the world, we were miles and miles apart, but the truth is we weren’t," Williams had said.