Tennis queens meet football legend David Beckham: Viral pics of Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sharapova break internet

Maria Sharapova turned heads in New York this week as she posed for a selfie alongside football legend David Beckham during a star-studded event hosted by Stella Artois. The 38-year-old former world No. 1, who ended her playing career in 2020, was almost unrecognisable to fans who remember her as the blonde star who stunned the tennis world with her Wimbledon triumph in 2004. These days, Sharapova wears her hair in a darker shade. The star-studded gathering came just days after the conclusion of the US Open, where women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka has been completing a victory lap of New York. While Sabalenka dominated the morning show circuit and late-night television, Sharapova shared her moment in the spotlight with Beckham, with whom she has previously appeared in campaigns for the Belgian beer brand.
Their latest reunion followed an earlier meeting at Wimbledon this summer, highlighting their long-standing partnership as Stella Artois ambassadors. For Sharapova, the celebration came on the back of another major career milestone, as she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last month in Newport, Rhode Island. The Russian star was part of the Class of 2025, alongside fellow nominees Kim Clijsters and Patrick McEnroe. The ceremony drew global attention when Serena Williams made a surprise appearance to present the honour. Reflecting on their rivalry, Williams told the audience: “We left everything out on the lines of the court every single match. We both hated to lose more than anything on this earth. We both knew that the other was the biggest obstacle between ourselves and the trophy. That's the root of how we got here.”