WATCH: Maria Sharapova shares a heartwarming embrace with Ons Jabeur during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The duo was also seen exchanging a few words, and the amount of respect they had for each other was also visibly evident.

WATCH: Maria Sharapova shares a heartwarming embrace with Ons Jabeur during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Maria Sharapova and Ons Jabeur share a moment together during the race. (credits: X)

It’s always a great sight to see tennis stars embracing each other outside the tennis court while spending some quality time together. Something like this took place at the final race weekend of the F1 2023 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix event. 

Ahead of the race at the Yas Marina circuit, former tennis player Maria Sharapova was seen exchanging a hug with World No. 6 Ons Jabeur. The duo was also seen exchanging a few words, and the amount of respect they had for each other was visibly evident from the way they got along with each other. 

YouTube video

Way back in September, Sharapova expressed her goodwill for Jabuer in a Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. She talked about how she really hopes that Jabuer wins her first-ever Grand Slam title very soon.

FS Video

Sharapova said: 

I'm rooting for Ons to win her first Grand Slam. She deserves that so much.

There were also other tennis stars present at the circuit to witness the last race of the F1 season, such as Hubert Hurkacz and Holger Rune. It was Max Verstappen who yet again won the race, becoming the first racer to win 19 races in a 22-race season and also becoming the first racer to lead for 1000 laps in a season. 

Maria Sharapova gave her views on the dark side of tennis

Maria Sharapova retired from the sport way back in 2020, bidding goodbye to her golden career. But since then, she has made brave remarks about the working model of the sport, considering it a business rather than just a game of racquet and ball.

She further talked about how things went messy right after she won her first Wimbledon title at the age of 17, beating Serena Williams.

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova during a press conference. (credits: Eurosport)

Sharapova said: 

It was a lesson in partnerships and winning. Going back to New York and going through the media rounds, it was the moment when I realized that sport was more than just about winning and losing, that this was a business, that you walk out onto the stage and you have a platform and you have a voice.

Sharapova explained that she was not aware of the dark stuff of business associated with the sport when she entered the game but soon got accustomed to it. She said that apart from winning titles, the sport was more about the sponsorships and the entities you were representing while playing on the court.

In case you missed it: