Did Serena take subtle dig back at Sharapova?
Serena Williams appears to have taken a thinly veiled swipe at Maria Sharapova after their long-running feud was recently re-ignited.
Serena posted a heartfelt tribute to her mother on social media on Wednesday, but many believe she took some subtle jabs at Sharapova in the process.
CLASS ACT: Nadal's incredible tribute to Australian fan
Sharapova recently released her autobiography 'Unstoppable', in which she refers to Serena over 100 times.
Amongst those references are comments about Serena's "think arms and legs", as well as a revelation about how their long-running feud started.
"I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon," Sharapova wrote in reference to her upset victory at the All England Club in the 2004 final.
On Wednesday Serena looked to have hit back at the comments about her body.
"Dear Mom, You are one of the strongest women I know. I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day…." she wrote.
Williams also appeared to refence Sharapova’s recent drug ban.
"I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage)."
For five-time grand slam winner Sharapova, Serena has always been the great unapproachable.
Her 18-year run of 23 majors has always eclipsed and enveloped Sharapova's career.
“Serena and I should be friends: we love the same thing, we have the same passion,” she wrote.
“But we are not friends—not at all. I think, to some extent, we have driven each other.
"Maybe that’s better than being friends. Maybe that’s what it takes to fire up the proper fury … Someday, when all this is in our past, maybe we’ll become friends. Or not.”
