Is there any truth to the claims that Serena Williams was dismissive of Meghan Markle? A breakdown of their friendship over the years

Serena Williams' friendship with Meghan Markle has been in the spotlight this week. There have been claims in the book written by British investigative journalist Tom Bower that Williams denied her friendship with the Duchess of Sussex.

But Bower has faced a lot of flak for his claims in the book, and comments by both women about one another suggest the opposite of what Bower has claimed.

The book, titled 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors', includes an excerpt where Serena Williams supposedly suggests Markle is not a friend but merely an acquaintance. Bower apparently reached out to Vanity Fair's Sam Kushner to confirm whether Williams was a friend of Markle's.

"You've got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide," Williams said according to Kushner, as mentioned in Bower's book.

While fans on social media were quick to criticize Bower for his claims, past comments from both Serena Williams and Meghan Markle also suggest that the two hold each other in high regard.

Markle has been spotted in Williams' player's box at Wimbledon in the past. Before the 2018 final at the iconic grasscourt event, the American tennis superstar even spoke about her close relationship with Markle.

"We've always had a wonderful friendship. She, every year for a couple of years, comes out to Wimbledon and has supported me. Now, she's supporting me in a different role but our friendship is still exactly the same," Serena Williams had said of Meghan Markle.

Markle even attended the 2019 US Open final to support Serena Williams, just months after giving birth to her son. During an appearance on Access Hollywood, the 23-time Grand Slam champion expressed her gratitude towards Markle for flying down to New York with a newborn baby just to watch her play.

Williams further stated that Markle's US Open gesture was just "one of the many things" she has done for her.

"She flew all the way with a newborn to see me play in New York and flew all the way back that night, and I probably couldn't have done that," the American player said during the interview.

"It just kind of goes to show you what an amazing person that she is, and that's just one of the many things that she does for me," Williams added. "I call her, text her anytime, crying, upset, she's always there. Doesn't matter what she's going through, she just sets time away, and she's just so amazing."

Williams, who was also one of the most high-profile guests at the royal wedding of Markle and Prince Harry in 2018, shed more light on the friendship between the two women during an interview later that year. As both Williams and Markle experienced turbulent times in their own lives, the tennis great revealed that the two were always around to support one another.

"The whole service was just wonderful. Most of all, I just wanted to see my friend being happy," Williams said of the royal wedding during an interview with The Sunday Project.

"We were actually just texting each other this morning. We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently," she added.

The quote from Williams provided by Vanity Fair, as mentioned by Bower in his book, was apparently taken out of context. Many believe it was just a case of the tennis player giving Markle advice on dealing with the pressures of paparazzi and fame.

"She quickly became a confidante" - When Meghan Markle lavished praise on Serena Williams

2019 US Open - Day 13

As per Insider, Serena Williams and Meghan Markle first became friends in 2014. They met at an event in the United States and even played flag football together during a celebrity event.

Markle was one of the lead stars of the TV show 'Suits' at the time. She later wrote about her friendship with Williams and her respect for her, on her lifestyle blog The Tig (which is now defunct).

"We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girlie stuff. So began our friendship," Markle wrote on The Tig back then.

Markle also expressed how Williams became a 'confidante' and that their bond flourished in quick time.

"She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto," Markle added.

Markle, who has attended many US Open and Wimbledon matches featuring Williams, also tweeted after the American great won the 2014 US Open and 2015 Australian Open titles.

The Duchess of Sussex even congratulated Serena Williams ahead of the birth of her daughter Olympia in August 2017, saying she would be an 'amazing mom.'

"She will be an amazing mom. The very best because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity. Plus, given that she is pretty epic at karaoke, I think she'll put her signature Serena spin on singing lullabies for the baby. I can't wait for that," Markle told Vogue.

Markle even extended her support to Williams when she launched an earlier business venture. And Williams did the same after Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey, which made many headlines in early 2021.