5 tennis players who made cameo appearances in TV shows ft. Serena Williams and Coco Gauff

Tennis still ranks as one of the most popular sports all over the world. With the sport largely being an individual game, players often end up being household names if they achieve great results.

The sport has witnessed plenty of rivalries over the last few decades. The contrast in personalities and game styles only intensifies the entertainment factor. Players have capitalized on their popularity not only to secure some endorsements, but also to solidify their presence in pop culture.

Television shows remain a way to unwind for millions of people on the planet, but it's not easy to capture and maintain the viewers attention. To spice things up, cameos and special appearances by well-known personalities have always been a thing.

On that note, here are five prominent names from the tennis fraternity who made special appearances on television shows:

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#5 - Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King at the 2023 Women's Sports Foundation Awards.

Billie Jean King has been a pioneer of the sport in many ways. From fighting for equal prize money to having a major hand in the formation of the WTA, she has been at the forefront of many movements.

So it's no surprise to see King remain an enduring public figure even today. The sitcom "Fresh Off the Boat", which premiered in 2015, was positively received right from the start. It focused on the lives of a Taiwanese-American family, the Huangs, living in Florida.

King guest starred in the second season of the show as herself. She was hired by the parents of the lead character to coach his younger sibling in tennis. They felt he could become the next Michael Chang under King's tutelage.

While it didn't pan out that way, King's short cameo showcased her comic timing and was appreciated a lot.

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#4 - Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova at the 2023 F1 Grand Prix of Monaco.

Maria Sharapova was no stranger to being in the limelight. Her win over Serena Williams in the final of the 2004 Wimbledon made her an overnight sensation. Her results on the court only got better as the years went by and she even completed a career Grand Slam.

But tennis wasn't Sharapova's sole interest. She dipped her toes in various activities, which made her popular across the board. She made a quick appearance in the hit show, "Billions".

Sharapova first appeared in the third season, where she played tennis with Damian Lewis' character. She reprised her role a couple of years later as she went on a dinner date with him.

Sharapova also made a quick cameo on an episode of "The Morning Show" in 2019. She was featured in a scene with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the two leads of the show.

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#3 - John McEnroe

John McEnroe at the 2023 Laver Cup.

John McEnroe's television resume might as well make him a bonafide television star. He has been featured on the small screen right from the start of his career across many shows.

McEnroe's roles include an appearance on hit shows like Frasier, 30 Rock, CSI:NY, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Saturday Night Live, among others. Since 2020, he has also found a steady gig as the narrator of the Netflix series, "Never Have I Ever".

The show focuses on the life of an Indian-American teenager, Devi Vishwakumar, living in Los Angeles. The character often makes references to McEnroe's past matches and even has his temper to match at times. His commentary gives valuable insights on how the lead character is feeling.

While most of his role is off the screen, McEnroe made a brief appearance in the finale of the first season.

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#2 - Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff at the 2023 US Open.

Coco Gauff took the world by storm when she made headlines with her run at the 2019 Wimbledon as a 15-year old. The teen sensation recently won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.

Gauff's popularity has only grown over the years, so it was no surprise to see her guest star in a show. She made her television debut on the second season of the show "All American: Homecoming" earlier this year.

The show focuses on the lives of college students in a fictional historically black college. In the episode Gauff is featured, the students ask the pro tennis player to bring attention to a matter revolving around racial profiling.

While Gauff loved the experience of being on the silver screen, she admitted that she's far more comfortable on tennis courts.

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#1 - Serena Williams

Serena Williams at the 2023 F1 Grand Prix of Miami.

Serena Williams' achievements set her on the path of greatness right from the start. She eventually retired last year, having won a total of 39 Major titles across all disciplines.

Williams' popularity on the court embedded her in popular culture at the very beginning of her career. Her first television role was on the hit show, "The Simpsons", where she appeared as herself.

While her debut was a voice role, Williams' first on-screen appearance was on the show "My Wife and Kids" in 2002. She later guest starred in other popular shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, ER, and All of Us.

Williams also lent her voice to characters on the critically acclaimed shows "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra". The American's a huge fan of the franchise, so it was a dream come true for her to be a part of it.