Maria Sharapova was in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium alongside her fiance Alexander Gilkes as they watched the first semifinal of the day between Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Navarro. The Belarusian defeated the home favorite 6-3, 7-6(2) in an hour and 30 minutes.
Sharapova is a former champion at Flushing Meadows herself, having clinched the title in 2006, which was the second Grand Slam triumph of her career. Seeded third at the tournament, she defeated the top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the semifinals and the second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final. The Russian only dropped a single set in her entire campaign.
The 37-year-old was present for the second 'Champions of Equality' event, which celebrates women who have led the fight for equality in the world of sports and entertainment. The event also featured Shonda Rhimes and Billie Jean King among other celebrities.
The Russian was later seen at the Arthur Ashe Stadium as she watched the second seed oust Navarro to reach the final of the US Open for a second consecutive year. She was seen with her fiance, British businessman Alexander Gilkes. Sharapova donned a chic yellow ensemble for the prestigious event.
Martina Navratilova also shared a photo from the top of the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the time of the semifinal clash indicating her presence. Tracy Austin was also present at the match.
Maria Sharapova is not the only star that has graced the US Open. Roger Federer, Simone Biles, Kevin Heart, Shonda Rhimes, and many other stars have been in attendance this season.
"I knew that I wasn't done, I had a lot more in me" - Maria Sharapova on her second Grand Salm win
While speaking to the media after her win, Maria Sharapova called it incredible. She said that the moment of joy when she went down on the ground, though short, felt incredible.
The Russian mentioned that she had felt the same a couple of years ago when she won Wimbledon, however, she knew she had more to offer. Sharapova called the win a culmination of her entire life's work alongside the support of her loved ones.
"Absolutely incredible. The first thing that comes into my mind when, you know, you go down on the ground and you just think of everything that you've put into this moment, and even though the moment is a very short time you get to be on court with that trophy, it's just so incredible."
"You know, I experienced it two years ago, and I knew that I wasn't done, I had a lot more in me. That was just the beginning. This is not just preparation that happened a couple weeks before the tournament; this is preparation that I've done ever since I was a little girl with the help of my amazing family."
Maria Sharapova went on to win three other Majors (one Australian Open and two French Opens) and completed the career Grand Slam in 2012 at the French Open.