Serena Williams has captured the attention of both Coco Gauff and Maria Sharapova with her relaxing escape to the seaside. However, the pair had very contrasting reactions to the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s pictures from her getaway. While Gauff displayed her appreciation, Sharapova pushed Williams to shift her focus to returning to the tennis tour.
Coco Gauff and Maria Sharapova React to Serena Williams’ Beach Getaway
Serena Williams recently took to Instagram to share a carousel of images from her time at the beach, joyfully welcoming summer in a chic tortoiseshell dress.
“I can smell summer around the corner. Dress in my hand, toes in the sand. I’m ready for summer,” she captioned the post.
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While Coco Gauff showed her love for the pictures with heart-eye emojis, Maria Sharapova humorously ordered Williams to ditch the beach and instead prepare for the upcoming grass-court swing.
“😍😍😍,” Gauff commented.
“Sand?? Girl, get on the grass!! 🙃,” Sharapova wrote.
Gauff wasn’t the only one impressed, as star gymnast Simone Biles also hyped up the former world No. 1 in the comments.
“GIRL YOU LOOOOOK GOODTTTT OKAY,” Biles commented.
Sharapova’s comment alluded to the rumors circulating about the 23-time Grand Slam champion planning a comeback to professional tennis. The buzz began after Williams re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) anti-doping testing pool in late 2025. The rumors were bolstered by Williams’ decision to train with Alycia Parks earlier this year, prompting even Novak Djokovic to predict a comeback at Wimbledon.
However, Williams has already shut down such claims, issuing a firm denial when Sharapova previously raised the topic of a return at the grass-court Major.
Instead, the 44-year-old has been offering insights into her personal life, recently opening up about the challenge of disciplining her daughter and the emotional toll it took on her.
“I told my daughter to go to bed. She did not therefore, she missed out on her sleep over. She cried. But what she did not know is I cried harder. I hate when she cries. 💔 Discipline sucks. But sometimes it’s important,” she posted.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, was last seen in action at the Madrid Open, where she suffered a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5) loss to Linda Nosková in the fourth round. The American was forced to battle a stomach virus during her campaign, which even caused her to throw up twice during her third-round encounter against Sorana Cîrstea.
MORE: ‘Sorry to Everyone’ – Coco Gauff Issues Apology After ‘Vomiting’ Incident at Madrid Open
Gauff will compete at the Italian Open next, hunting for her first WTA 1000 title of the season. She will face tough competition from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Iga Świątek in the draw when the tournament begins on May 5. Subsequently, the 22-year-old will turn her attention to her title defense at the French Open.
