Serena Williams may soon become the richest endorser in women’s tennis, if only by default.
Williams frequently comes in second to Sharapova on lists of the highest-paid female athletes. But Sharapova is facing a suspension and loss of sponsorship after she announced Monday that she had tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance.
Speaking before an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden with her good friend Caroline Wozniacki, Williams expressed her surprise at Sharapova’s announcement.
“Like everyone else, most people were surprised and shocked,” she said. “But most people are happy with the fact she was upfront with what she had done in terms of what she had neglected. With that being said, she’s taking responsibility, which she was ready to do.”
While she was sympathetic toward Sharapova, Williams did not ask tennis officials to demonstrate special treatment toward the Russian. She also did not think Sharapova would face unfairly harsh treatment as a female player. Sharapova is, by far, the most prominent female tennis player to test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
“In sport and in life, there’s always a double standard,” Williams said. “Everyone knows that, whether it’s a race thing or sex thing. However, this is a different thing. As Maria said, she’s ready to take responsibility. And that takes courage and heart.”
Sharapova, who will be provisionally suspended beginning Saturday, could face anything from a slap on the wrist to a lengthy ban. Sharapova said that she had not checked the updated banned substances list for 2016, which included meldonium for the first time. Sharapova said she had taken the drug for health reasons since 2006.
Wozniacki said it was very unusual for a player not to be up-to-date on the banned list.
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“Any time we take any medication, we double- and triple-check,” Wozniacki said. “Sometimes even a thing like cough drops and nasal spray can be on the list. So as athletes we make sure not to take something that would put us in a bad situation.”
Williams and Sharapova have been two of Nike’s most visible spokeswomen in recent years. But Nike, along with TAG Heuer and Porsche, suspended ties with Sharapova after her news conference. Williams said she would not comment on the Nike decision.
“They’re successful; they make their own decisions,” she said. “They obviously know how to make decisions.”
Sharapova has admitted to taking meldonium for the past 10 years, so it is also true that Williams has faced the Russian many times while Sharapova was using the drug. Williams has defeated Sharapova 18 times in a row and would not say Tuesday that she faced a disadvantage in any of those matches.
“I don’t think I’m the best person to ask that question,” Williams said.
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