Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is a Russian former professional tennis player, widely renowned for her powerful game and status as a global sports icon. She was ranked as the World No. 1 in women's singles for 21 weeks and is one of only ten women to achieve the Career Grand Slam in singles, winning all four major titles during her illustrious career.

A teen sensation, Sharapova secured 36 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including five major championships and the 2004 WTA Tour Championships.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. She stands 188 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand.

She has resided in the United States since the age of seven and maintains homes in Bradenton, Florida, and Manhattan Beach, California.

Her parents, Yuri Sharapov and Yelena, are from Gomel, Byelorussian SSR, and moved from their hometown shortly before Maria's birth due to concerns about the regional effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

In her personal life, Sharapova was engaged to Slovenian basketball player Sasha Vujačić from 2011 to 2012. She later dated Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov between 2012 and 2015. Since 2018, she has been in a relationship with English businessman Alexander Gilkes, to whom she became engaged in December 2020. They welcomed their son on July 1, 2022.

Sharapova has maintained a significant public profile off the court, featuring in modeling assignments, including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and appearing in numerous advertisements for brands like Nike, Prince, and Canon.

She has also been the face of various fashion houses, notably Cole Haan.

Forbes recognized her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years, with career earnings of US$285 million (including prize money) since turning professional in 2001. In 2018, she launched a program aimed at mentoring women entrepreneurs.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sharapova has been dedicated to charity work. Since February 2007, she has served as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, focusing specifically on Chernobyl Recovery and Development projects.

She has personally donated substantial sums to Chernobyl-related initiatives, including a $210,000 scholarship program for students from affected areas of Belarus. Sharapova also helped promote the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, serving as the first torch bearer in the torch-lighting ceremony.

She has contributed to various other causes, such as the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund in 2004 and aid for victims of the Beslan school hostage crisis in 2005.

Her autobiography, "Unstoppable. My Life So Far," was published on September 12, 2017.

Post-retirement, she has taken up the sport of pickleball, participating in a notable doubles match in 2024 with John McEnroe.

Despite residing in the United States for many years, Sharapova has maintained her Russian citizenship, citing a connection to her family environment, rich culture, and the "never giving up attitude" that shaped her.

In March 2022, she spoke out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and pledged donations to organizations assisting Ukrainian children affected by the conflict.

Junior Career

Sharapova first gained attention in junior tennis in November 2000, winning the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at just 13.

She received the "Rising Star Award" for her exceptional promise.

Professional Career

Maria Sharapova made her professional debut on her 14th birthday, April 19, 2001. She played her first WTA tournament at the Pacific Life Open in 2002. From 2003, Sharapova began playing a full season and quickly climbed into the top 50 by the end of the year.

She notably reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in her first attempt as a wildcard in 2003, and captured her first WTA titles that year at the Japan Open Tennis Championships and the Tournoi de Québec.

Her significant breakthrough came in 2004 when, as a 17-year-old, she won the Wimbledon Championships, upsetting two-time defending champion Serena Williams.

This victory marked her first Grand Slam singles title. Later in 2004, she also captured the WTA Tour Championships. In August 2005, at the age of 18, Sharapova first ascended to the World No. 1 position, becoming the first Russian woman to achieve this feat.

Continued success over the following years included major titles at the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.

Despite recurring shoulder injuries that impacted her career in various periods, Sharapova demonstrated immense resilience. She achieved a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in 2012, marking her return to the No. 1 ranking after a long struggle with success on clay courts.

Shortly after, she earned an Olympic silver medal in women's singles at the 2012 London Olympics. She secured her fifth major championship by winning a second French Open title in 2014.

Sharapova faced a challenging period after failing a drug test for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, a substance that had recently been banned.

She was initially suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation in June 2016.

However, her suspension was later reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October 2016, which found that she had committed "no significant fault" and had taken the substance based on a doctor's recommendation with a good faith belief that it was appropriate.

She returned to the WTA Tour in April 2017 at the Stuttgart Open.

Maria Sharapova officially retired from the sport on February 26, 2020.

Coaches

Maria Sharapova had several notable coaches throughout her professional career.

These include her father Yuri Sharapov, Robert Lansdorp, Michael Joyce (2004–2011), Jimmy Connors (2013), Sven Groeneveld (2013–2018), Thomas Högstedt (2010–2013, 2018–2019), and Riccardo Piatti (2019–2020).

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 645–171 (79.0%)
• Career titles: 36
• Highest ranking: No. 1 (August 22, 2005)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – W (2008)
• French Open – W (2012, 2014)
• Wimbledon – W (2004)
• US Open – W (2006)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• WTA Tour Championships – W (2004)
• Olympic Games – F (2012)

Doubles

• Career record: 23–17 (57.5%)
• Career titles: 3
• Highest ranking: No. 41 (June 14, 2004)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2003, 2004)
• French Open – 1R
• Wimbledon – 1R
• US Open – 2R (2003)

Mixed Doubles

• Career record: 2–1 (66.7%)
• Career titles: 0

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 1R
• French Open – 1R
• Wimbledon – 1R
• US Open – QF (2004)

Team competitions

• Fed Cup – W (2008)