Maria Sharapova posed for a selfie with former England captain David Beckham and reigning U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka at a Stella Artois promotional event in New York City on Tuesday, drawing attention for the tennis legend's changed appearance and recent off-court milestones.
The event, held shortly after the U.S. Open, featured Sabalenka as she continues a series of media appearances following what the cluster of reports described as her fourth Grand Slam title. Stella Artois, a longtime sponsor of the men’s tour and an official partner of ATP events, staged the party amid the tournament’s post-event celebrations.
Sharapova, 38, who retired from professional competition in 2020, appeared with darker hair closer to her natural shade, a look that drew comment from observers who remembered her as the blonde Wimbledon champion who rose to prominence in 2004. She has been a long-running ambassador for Stella Artois and has partnered with Beckham on promotional appearances in the past, including at Wimbledon.
The New York appearance followed Sharapova’s induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, three weeks earlier, where she was part of the Class of 2025 alongside other nominees. That ceremony included a surprise tribute from Serena Williams, who traveled to deliver the induction and reflected on their rivalry and later friendship. Williams said, "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." She also praised Sharapova's "relentlessness."
Sabalenka has been visible on New York’s morning-show circuit and late-night programs in the days after her U.S. Open victory, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live and a series of podcasts as part of her title tour. The Stella Artois party reunited several figures from recent high-profile tennis events; Sharapova and Beckham were photographed together in London during Wimbledon earlier this year.
Representatives for Stella Artois did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither Sabalenka nor Sharapova issued new statements at the New York event, which was described by organisers as a brand celebration following the conclusion of the Grand Slam season.
The gathering illustrated the continued overlap between former champions, current titleholders and commercial partners in the sport, and underscored Sharapova’s ongoing presence in tennis circles since her retirement and subsequent Hall of Fame recognition.