Maria Sharapova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Maria Sharapova

Sharapova in 2024
Full name	Mariya Yuryevna Sharapova
Native name	Мария Шарапова
Country (sports)	Russia
Residence	Florida and California, US
Born	(1987-04-19) 19 April 1987 (age 38) Nyagan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Turned pro	19 April 2001
Retired	26 February 2020
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand), born left-handed
Prize money	$38,777,962 4th all-time in earnings
Singles
Career record	645–171 (79.04%)
Career titles	36
Highest ranking	No. 1 (22 August 2005)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (2008)
French Open	W (2012, 2014)
Wimbledon	W (2004)
US Open	W (2006)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2004)
Olympic Games	F (2012)
Doubles
Career record	23–17 (57.5%)
Career titles	3
Highest ranking	No. 41 (14 June 2004)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2003, 2004)
US Open	2R (2003)
Mixed doubles
Career record	2–1 (66.7%)
Career titles	0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open	QF (2004)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	W (2008)
Signature
Medal record Representing  Russia Olympic Games Silver 2012 London Singles

Maria Sharapova is a famous Russian former tennis player. She was once ranked the world's number one singles player. She played on the WTA Tour from 2001 to 2020. Maria held the top spot for 21 weeks in total.

She is one of only ten women to win all four major tennis tournaments. This achievement is called a career Grand Slam. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Many people think she was one of the best female tennis players of her time.

Maria first became world No. 1 on August 22, 2005, when she was 18. She was the first Russian woman to reach this ranking. She won five major titles: two at the French Open, and one each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. In total, she won 36 singles titles and three doubles titles.

In 2016, Maria had a positive test for a banned substance called meldonium. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) suspended her from playing tennis. Later, her suspension was reduced to 15 months. This was because a court found she had not done anything seriously wrong. She returned to playing tennis in April 2017.

Maria has also been a model and appeared in many advertisements. She was the highest-paid female athlete for 11 years in a row. She has also been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador. She helps with programs related to the Chernobyl disaster. In 2018, she started a program to help women who are starting their own businesses.

Early Life & Tennis Beginnings

Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russia. Her parents, Yuri and Yelena, were from Belarus. They moved away from their home before Maria was born. This was because they were worried about the effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Discovering Tennis at a Young Age

In 1990, when Maria was three, her family moved to Sochi, Russia. She first hit a tennis ball when she was four years old. Her father, Yuri, became friends with Aleksandr Kafelnikov. Aleksandr's son, Yevgeny, later became a famous tennis player.

Aleksandr gave Maria her first tennis racquet in 1991. She was four years old. She started practicing regularly with her father at a local park. Maria took her first tennis lessons with Yuri Yutkin. He was very impressed by her amazing hand-eye coordination.

Starting Professional Training in the US

In 1993, at age six, Maria went to a tennis clinic in Moscow. There, famous tennis player Martina Navratilova saw her play. Martina suggested that Maria train with Nick Bollettieri in Florida, USA. Bollettieri had trained many top players before.

Maria's family did not have much money. Her father borrowed money so they could travel to the United States in 1994. Neither of them spoke English. Maria's mother could not join them for two years due to visa rules. Maria's father worked low-paying jobs to pay for her lessons. In 1995, Maria was signed by IMG. They agreed to pay her annual tuition fee. This allowed her to join the academy at age nine.

Maria Sharapova's Tennis Career

Junior Success & Early Professional Matches

Maria first became known in tennis in November 2000. She won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships at just 13 years old. She received the "Rising Star Award" for her great promise.

Maria became a professional tennis player on her 14th birthday in April 2001. She played her first WTA tournament in 2002. She won one match before losing to Monica Seles. Because of rules about how many professional events she could play, Maria focused on junior tournaments. She reached the finals of the girls' singles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2002. At 14 years and 9 months, she was the youngest girl to reach the Australian Open junior final.

Maria reached No. 6 in the junior world rankings in October 2002. She won three junior singles tournaments and was runner-up in five. Her junior record was 47 wins and 9 losses.

2003: Winning First Titles

In 2003, Maria played a full season and quickly moved into the top 50 players. She played in the Australian Open and French Open for the first time. However, she did not win a match in either.

At Wimbledon, she was given a special entry (wildcard). She beat 11th seed Jelena Dokić, her first win against a top-20 player. She reached the fourth round before losing. By September, Maria won her first WTA title in Japan. She then won her second title in Quebec City. She was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year.

2004: Wimbledon Champion & Rising to Fame

Maria lost in the third round of the Australian Open. She later reached the semifinals at the Cellular South Cup. During the spring clay-court season, Maria entered the top 20 rankings. She reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time.

Maria won her third career title at the Wimbledon warm-up event. At 17, she was seeded 13th at Wimbledon. She reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. In the final, Maria surprised top seed Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam title. She became the third-youngest woman to win Wimbledon. Maria was also the second Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. Her victory was called "the most stunning upset." She entered the top 10 rankings after this win.

After Wimbledon, Maria's popularity grew a lot. This was called "Maria Mania." She won two more titles in Asia later that year. In October, Maria reached her first Tier I event final in Zurich. She then made her debut at the year-end WTA Tour Championships. She won two of her three group matches and reached the semifinals. In the final, she defeated an injured Serena Williams.

2005: Becoming World Number One

Maria started 2005 at the Australian Open. She reached her second Grand Slam semifinal. She had three chances to win her semifinal match but lost to Serena Williams. In February, Maria won two tournaments in a row. This helped her reach number 3 in the world rankings.

Maria lost in the semifinals at Indian Wells. She reached the final in Miami, losing to Kim Clijsters. Maria made the semifinals of a clay-court tournament for the first time in Rome. She would have become world No. 1 if she had won. She reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the second year. On grass, Maria won her third title of the year. She successfully defended her title at the DFS Classic. At Wimbledon, she reached the semifinals without losing a set. However, she was then beaten by Venus Williams.

Maria became the first Russian woman to be world No. 1 on August 22, 2005. Her time at No. 1 lasted only one week. She regained the top spot on September 12, 2005, and held it for six weeks.

2006: US Open Champion

Maria started 2006 by losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She won her first title in nine months at Indian Wells. She reached the final in Miami before losing.

Maria returned for the French Open. She was eliminated in the fourth round. On grass, she lost in the semifinals in Birmingham. At Wimbledon, she lost in the semifinals to the eventual champion.

Maria won her second title of the year at the Acura Classic. As the third seed at the US Open, Maria defeated top seed Amélie Mauresmo in the semifinals. She then beat Justine Henin to win her second Grand Slam singles title.

That autumn, Maria won two more titles. She won all three of her group matches at the WTA Tour Championships. Her winning streak ended in the semifinals. She finished the season ranked world No. 2, her best year-end ranking.

2007: Injuries and Ranking Changes

Maria was the top seed at the Australian Open. She reached the final for the first time but lost to Serena Williams. After reaching the final, Maria became world No. 1 again. She held it for seven weeks. A hamstring injury affected her play, and she lost her No. 1 ranking.

A shoulder injury forced Maria to miss most of the clay-court season. She reached the semifinals of the French Open for the first time. On grass, she was runner-up at the DFS Classic. She had her earliest Wimbledon loss since 2003, losing in the fourth round.

Maria won her only championship of the year at the Acura Classic. In her US Open title defense, Maria lost in the third round. This was her earliest exit at a Grand Slam since 2004. She fell out of the top 5 rankings for the first time since 2004. She qualified for the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships. She won all three of her group matches and reached the final. She lost to world No. 1 Henin in a long match. Maria finished the year back in the top 5.

2008: Australian Open Win & Shoulder Surgery

Maria was seeded fifth at the Australian Open. She defeated world No. 1 Henin in the quarterfinals. She then beat Jelena Janković in the semifinals. In the final, she defeated Ana Ivanovic to win her third Grand Slam title. She did not lose a single set in the whole tournament.

After the Australian Open, Maria won 18 matches in a row. This included a win at the Qatar Open. Her winning streak ended in the semifinals at Indian Wells. In April, Maria won the Bausch & Lomb Championships.

In May, Maria became world No. 1 again. This happened because Henin suddenly retired. As the top seed at the French Open, Maria lost in the fourth round. She then lost her No. 1 ranking. Her form continued to drop at Wimbledon. She lost in the second round to a much lower-ranked player. This was her earliest loss at any Grand Slam in almost five years.

Maria withdrew from the Rogers Cup in August due to a shoulder injury. An MRI scan showed she had a torn rotator cuff. This forced her to miss all remaining tournaments, including the Beijing Olympics and the US Open. She still finished the year ranked world No. 9. In October, Maria had surgery to fix her shoulder.

2009-2010: Recovery and Comeback

Maria did not play in the Australian Open as she recovered from surgery. She returned to tennis in March, playing doubles at Indian Wells. She then withdrew from more singles tournaments. Her world ranking dropped a lot, reaching No. 126 in May.

Playing her first singles tournament in almost ten months, Maria reached the quarterfinals of the Warsaw Open. The next week, in her first Grand Slam since surgery, she reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.

During the grass-court season, Maria lost in the semifinals in Birmingham. At Wimbledon, she was upset in the second round. Maria had good success in the summer. She reached the quarterfinals at Stanford and the semifinals at Los Angeles. She was runner-up at the Rogers Cup. At the US Open, Maria was seeded 29th. She lost in the third round to a teenage American player. She finished the season at world No. 14.

Maria officially began her 2010 season at the Australian Open. She lost in the first round, her first opening-match loss at a Grand Slam since 2003. She then won a smaller American event, her 21st career title. Maria had to withdraw from several tournaments due to an elbow injury.

She returned at the Madrid Open, losing in the first round. She won her first title on red clay at Strasbourg. At the French Open, Maria lost in the third round. At Wimbledon, she lost in the fourth round to world No. 1 Serena Williams. Maria felt she was getting back to her best form.

During the US Open Series, Maria reached two finals. She lost to Victoria Azarenka and Kim Clijsters. At the US Open, Maria was the 14th seed. She made it to the fourth round, where she lost. Her last two tournaments of the season ended in disappointment. She finished the year at number 18 in the world.

2011: Back in the Top 10

Maria started 2011 with a new coach, Thomas Högstedt. At the Australian Open, she lost in the fourth round. She had to miss some tournaments due to an ear infection. Maria returned to the tour in March. She reached the semifinals at Indian Wells and the final at Key Biscayne. She lost to Victoria Azarenka in the final. With this result, Maria returned to the top 10 rankings.

During the clay-court season, Maria won the Italian Open. This was her biggest clay-court victory so far. At the French Open, she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal since her shoulder injury. She lost in the semifinals.

At the Wimbledon Championships, Maria reached the final without losing a set. She lost to Petra Kvitová. This was her first Grand Slam final in over three years. Maria lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals at Stanford. She then lost in the third round at the Rogers Cup.

Maria won the Cincinnati Open. This was her fourth final of the year. She defeated Jelena Janković in a long match. She moved up to world No. 4, her highest ranking since 2008.

At the US Open, Maria was the third seed. She was upset in the third round. However, she climbed to world No. 2. Maria withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open and China Open due to an ankle injury. She also withdrew from the 2011 WTA Tour Championships because of the injury. Maria ended the year as No. 4 in the world.

2012: Career Grand Slam & Olympic Silver

Maria missed the Brisbane International due to her ankle injury. Her first tournament of 2012 was the Australian Open. She reached the final, where she lost to Victoria Azarenka. Her ranking improved to world No. 3. She then reached world No. 2 after playing in Paris.

At Indian Wells, Maria reached the final but lost to Azarenka again. She also lost in the final at the Sony Ericsson Open. This was her third final loss of the year. Maria won her first title of the year at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart. She beat world number one Victoria Azarenka in the final. Maria then lost to Serena Williams at the Madrid Open.

As the defending champion at the Italian Open, Maria reached the final again. She saved a match point to win against Li Na, earning her 26th career title. This was the fourth time Maria had successfully defended a title.

Maria was seeded second at the French Open. She reached the finals, which allowed her to regain the world No. 1 ranking. In the final, she defeated Sara Errani to win her fourth Grand Slam title. This was her first French Open title. Maria became only the tenth woman to complete a Career Grand Slam. During the tournament, she was asked to carry the flag for Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

Maria went straight to Wimbledon without playing warm-up events. She was the top seed. She lost in the fourth round to Sabine Lisicki. She lost her world No. 1 ranking back to Azarenka.

Maria made her Olympic debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was seeded third. She reached the Olympic final, guaranteeing a medal. She faced Serena Williams in the final, but lost badly. Despite the loss, Maria won an Olympic silver medal.

Maria missed some summer hard-court events due to a stomach virus. At the US Open, she was the third seed. She reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. She lost in the semifinals to Victoria Azarenka.

Maria lost in the quarterfinals at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. At the China Open, she was again defeated by Azarenka in the final. Maria qualified for the year-end championships in Istanbul. She reached the final but lost to Serena Williams for the 13th time in a row.

2013: Another Shoulder Injury

Maria withdrew from the Brisbane International due to a collarbone injury. She started her season at the Australian Open as the second seed. She won her first two matches without losing a single game. She reached the semifinals but lost to Li Na.

She reached the semifinals at the Qatar Open, losing to Serena Williams for the 10th straight time. Maria then won the Indian Wells tournament. This was her 28th career title. Her win made her the No. 2 player in the world.

Maria reached the final at the Sony Open again. She faced world No. 1 Serena Williams and lost for the 11th time in a row. Next, she played in Stuttgart, where she was the defending champion. Maria won her 29th career title there.

A week later, she reached the final at the Madrid Open. She faced Serena Williams for the 15th time, losing for the 12th time in a row. Maria withdrew from the Italian Open due to a viral illness.

At the French Open, Maria reached the final again. She beat Azarenka in the semifinals but lost to Serena Williams in the final. At Wimbledon, she lost in the second round. Maria withdrew from the US Open due to a shoulder injury, ending her season early.

2014: Comeback and Second French Open Title

Maria returned to play at the Brisbane International after her shoulder injury. She reached the semifinals, losing to Serena Williams. At the Australian Open, Maria lost in the fourth round. She then lost in the semifinals at the Open GdF Suez.

In March, Maria lost in the third round at Indian Wells. She reached the semifinals in Miami, losing to Serena Williams for the 15th time in a row. In April, she won the Stuttgart Open. This was her first title of the year and 30th of her career. Maria won the Madrid Open in May. This was her second title of the year. She lost in the third round at the Italian Open.

Maria was seeded seventh at the French Open. She reached the semifinals for the fourth year in a row. In the semifinals, she defeated Eugenie Bouchard. In the final, she defeated Simona Halep to win her second French Open title and fifth major title overall. The match was very exciting and lasted over three hours. At Wimbledon, Maria reached the fourth round, where she lost.

Maria played at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. She lost in the second round. At the Western & Southern Open, she reached the semifinals but lost. At the US Open, Maria was the 5th seed. She lost in the fourth round.

Maria lost in the second round at the Wuhan Open. The following week, she played the China Open in Beijing. She reached the final without losing a set. In the final, Maria met Petra Kvitová and won. Her ranking rose to No. 2 in the world.

Maria was ranked No. 2 heading into the WTA Tour Championships. She had a chance to become world No. 1 again. She lost two of her three group matches. She ended the year as world No. 2, behind Serena Williams.

2015: Fourth Australian Open Final

Maria started her 2015 season at the Brisbane International. She reached the final without losing a set. She played an intense match against Ana Ivanovic and won. This was her 34th title. Maria's next tournament was the Australian Open. She reached her fourth Australian Open final, where she lost to Serena Williams.

In February, Maria played in Acapulco. She withdrew from her semifinal match due to a stomach virus. At Indian Wells, she lost in the fourth round. At the Miami Open, Maria lost in the second round. This was her earliest exit from that tournament since 2003.

Maria began her clay season in Stuttgart. She was the three-time defending champion. She lost in the second round, ending her winning streak at the tournament. This loss also meant she lost her No. 2 ranking. Maria reached the semifinals at the Madrid Open. She lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Maria's next tournament was the Italian Open in Rome. She won her third Rome title. By winning in Rome, Maria reclaimed the No. 2 ranking.

She reached the semifinals at Wimbledon but lost to Serena Williams. Maria then withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a left forearm injury. She also withdrew from the China Open. At the WTA Finals, she won all three of her group matches. She lost in the semifinals.

Maria played in the Fed Cup final. She won both of her matches. However, Russia lost the final. Maria ended the season as the world No. 4.

2016: Injuries and Suspension

Maria began her 2016 season at the Brisbane International. She withdrew before her first match due to a left forearm injury. Maria was seeded fifth at the Australian Open. She reached the quarterfinals, where she faced Serena Williams again. She lost in straight sets. Her ranking fell to sixth.

After the Australian Open, Maria was nominated for the Fed Cup. She had a forearm injury and was only listed for the doubles match. Russia lost the tie. By being nominated, Maria qualified for the Summer Olympics.

Maria withdrew from more tournaments due to her forearm injury. After the 2016 Australian Open, Maria had a positive drug test for meldonium. This substance had been banned since January 1, 2016. She was suspended from tennis. On June 8, she was banned for two years. In October 2016, her ban was reduced to 15 months. It started from the date of the failed test.

2017: Return to Tennis

Maria returned to the WTA Tour in April 2017. She received special entries (wildcards) to play in three tournaments. She played her first match on April 26 at the Porsche Grand Prix. She won her first match back in straight sets. She reached the semifinals before losing.

Maria then played in the Madrid Open. She lost in the second round. In the Italian Open, she had to stop playing due to a thigh injury. The French Federation announced that Maria would not receive a wildcard for the 2017 French Open.

Maria withdrew from the grass season, including Wimbledon, due to her thigh injury. She received another wildcard for the Stanford Classic. She won her first match, which pushed her back into the top 150 rankings. She withdrew from the next round due to a left arm injury.

Maria received a wildcard for the US Open. She opened against world No. 2, Simona Halep, and won. She reached the fourth round before losing. Maria then played in China. She won the Tianjin Open, her first WTA title since 2015. This win helped her climb into the top 60 rankings. She lost in the first round at the Kremlin Cup.

2018: French Open Quarterfinal

Maria began her 2018 season in Shenzhen. She reached the semifinals. Maria returned to the Australian Open for the first time since her suspension. She lost in the third round. She lost in the first round at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells. She withdrew from the Dubai and Miami tournaments due to a forearm strain.

Maria started her clay court season in Stuttgart. She lost in the first round. She ended her losing streak at the Madrid Open. She reached the quarterfinals. Maria began her Italian Open campaign with a win. She reached the semifinals before losing to world No. 1 Simona Halep. Her performance improved her ranking inside the top 30.

Maria began her French Open campaign with a win. She reached the second week of the French Open. In the fourth round, she was set to play Serena Williams, but Williams withdrew due to injury. Maria reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2016. She lost in the quarterfinals.

Maria withdrew from the Birmingham Classic to prepare for Wimbledon. She lost in the first round at Wimbledon. This was her worst Grand Slam result since 2010. Maria withdrew from the Silicon Valley Classic. She played at the Rogers Cup and reached the third round. She withdrew from the Western & Southern Open. Maria began her US Open campaign with a win. She reached the fourth round before losing. Maria ended her season with withdrawals from tournaments due to a right shoulder injury. She finished the season ranked 29.

2019: More Injuries

Maria began her 2019 season in Shenzhen. She won her 800th career singles match. She reached the quarterfinals before retiring due to injury. Maria started her Australian Open campaign with a strong win. She reached the fourth round before losing. Maria recorded her first win in Russia in 13 years. She withdrew from her next match due to injury. Maria withdrew from Indian Wells and Miami due to a shoulder injury. She later withdrew from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open due to her lingering shoulder injury.

Maria returned after four months at the Mallorca Open. She won her first grass-court match since 2015. She lost in the second round. In the first round at Wimbledon, Maria retired due to injury. Maria lost in the first round of the Rogers Cup. She ended her three-match losing streak at the Western & Southern Open. She lost in the second round. Maria lost in the first round of the US Open to Serena Williams. This was her final match of the year. She ended the year ranked No. 131, her lowest year-end ranking since 2002.

2020: Retirement from Tennis

Maria began her 2020 season at an exhibition tournament. She received a wildcard at the Brisbane International but lost in the first round. Maria played at the Kooyong Classic. As a wildcard at the 2020 Australian Open, Maria lost in the first round. This was her third straight first-round loss at a Grand Slam. Her ranking fell to No. 369, her lowest since 2002.

This defeat was Maria's final match. On February 26, 2020, Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis. She wrote in an essay: "Tennis – I'm saying goodbye. But as I embark on my next chapter, I want anyone who dreams of excelling in anything to know that doubt and judgment are inevitable. You will fail hundreds of times and the world will watch you. Accept it. Trust yourself. I promise you that you will prevail."

Playing for Russia: Fed Cup Participation

Maria has lived in the United States since she was seven. However, she is still a Russian citizen. This means she can play for Russia in the Fed Cup. In the past, her father's behavior and her commitment to the Fed Cup caused some discussion.

After Maria beat fellow Russian Anastasia Myskina in 2004, Myskina criticized Maria's father. She said he was "yelling and screaming instructions." Myskina said she would stop playing for Russia if Maria joined the team. Other teammates also expressed concerns. However, the team captain believed things would calm down.

Maria said she wanted to play in the Fed Cup in late 2005. She was set to play in April 2006 but withdrew. She also withdrew from ties in 2007 due to injuries. This led to the captain saying she might not be chosen for the final. However, Maria attended the final to support the team. Some teammates wondered if she was only there to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Maria finally made her Fed Cup debut in February 2008. She won both her singles matches, helping Russia win. She was allowed to skip the semifinals but was on the team for the final. However, her shoulder injury prevented her from playing.

In 2011, Maria played in the Fed Cup. She lost her match but her teammate secured the win for Russia. Maria continued to play in 2012, helping Russia win against Spain. In 2015, Maria helped Russia reach the semifinals. She won both her matches in the final against the Czech Republic. Despite her two wins, Russia lost the final.

Maria's Playing Style

Maria was an aggressive baseliner. This means her game focused on powerful serves and groundstrokes. She hit shots with great speed, power, and depth. She could also create sharp angles with her forehand and backhand. Her style meant she hit many winning shots but also made many errors.

Maria's best shot was her backhand. It was considered "among the best in tennis." She could hit winners with her backhand from anywhere on the court. Her forehand was also strong and powerful. She often used a special "buggy whip" forehand. This shot helped her hit winners even when she was defending. This shot worked well on fast courts. After her shoulder surgery in 2010, she changed her forehand. This helped her play better on clay courts. Instead of traditional volleys, she preferred powerful "swinging" volleys. Later in her career, she added drop shots and sliced backhands.

Early in her career, Maria's serves were very powerful. She had one of the best serves on the WTA Tour. However, after 2007, her shoulder problems affected her serve. She often hit many double faults. When her serve was not working well, it affected the rest of her game. After her 2008 surgery, she used a shorter serving motion. From 2010, she returned to a longer motion. She even hit a serve at 121 mph (195 km/h), her fastest ever. But continuing shoulder injuries made her serve a weakness later in her career.

Maria was known for her mental toughness. Nick Bollettieri said she was "tough as nails." Hall-of-famer John McEnroe called her "one of the best competitors." She was known for her loud "grunting" during matches. It reached 101 decibels at Wimbledon in 2005. Maria said her grunting was "a natural instinct."

Because of her powerful game, Maria preferred fast hard, grass, and carpet courts early on. She was not as good on slower clay courts. She once said she felt like a "cow on ice" on clay. As her career went on, she improved a lot on clay. She won two French Open titles. By 2014, she had one of the highest winning percentages on clay among active players.

Coaches and Personal Life

Maria had several coaches during her career. Her father, Yuri, was also a coach. Other coaches included Michael Joyce, Jimmy Connors, Sven Groeneveld, Thomas Högstedt, and Riccardo Piatti.

Relationships and Family

In 2011, Maria was engaged to basketball player Sasha Vujačić. They ended their engagement in 2012. Between 2012 and 2015, Maria dated tennis player Grigor Dimitrov. Since 2018, Maria has been in a relationship with British businessman Alexander Gilkes. They got engaged in December 2020. On July 1, 2022, Maria gave birth to their son.

Public Image and Future Plans

Maria has lived in the United States since she was seven. She has homes in Florida and California. From 2005 to 2011, Forbes magazine named her one of the top 100 most powerful celebrities. She was the highest-paid female athlete for many years.

Maria has spoken about how long she wanted to play tennis. In 2008, she said she hoped to have a "nice husband and a few kids" by age 25. However, in 2012, she changed her mind. She said she wanted to keep playing as long as she enjoyed it. Maria said:

I'm sure when I was 17 years old and someone said, you'll be playing for another eight years, it would be like, you're not going to see me at a press conference at 25 years old. But years go on. I missed a year in my career—I didn't play that year. I've said this, just before the tournament, a few weeks before, I woke up, and I was just so happy to be going back on the court. I felt so fresh, full of energy, just with a really good perspective. Times change, obviously. I see myself playing this sport for many more years because it's something that gives me the most pleasure in my life. I think it helps when you know you're good at something, and you can always improve it. It obviously helps with the encouragement.

Citizenship and Giving Back

Maria has lived in the US since 1994 but kept her Russian citizenship. She said it was about her family, culture, and the "never giving up attitude" of the Russian people.

The Maria Sharapova Foundation helps children around the world. Maria has given money to projects related to the Chernobyl disaster. She launched a scholarship program for students from areas affected by Chernobyl. In 2004, she wore a black ribbon at the US Open to remember the victims of the Beslan school hostage crisis. She also donated money to help those affected. In 2007, she became a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and donated money to Chernobyl-recovery projects. She also helped promote the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Autobiography and Other Work

Maria's autobiography, Unstoppable. My Life So Far, was published in 2017.

Endorsements and Business Ventures

Maria's success and looks helped her get many endorsement deals. These deals earned her much more money than her tournament winnings. From 2006 to 2016, Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete. Most of this money came from endorsements. In 2011, she was the only woman on Forbes' list of 50 top-paid athletes.

After winning Wimbledon in 2004, mobile phone company Motorola signed Maria. She also appeared in commercials for Land Rover and Canon. She had deals with watch brand Tag Heuer and jeweler Tiffany. Tiffany even made special earrings for her to wear at major tournaments. In 2006, she starred in an award-winning Nike ad campaign called "Pretty." She also had sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Tropicana. Maria was featured in many tennis video games.

In 2010, Maria renewed her contract with Nike for $70 million. This was the biggest deal ever for a sportswoman. She also launched her own tennis clothing line with Nike. She designed dresses for major tournaments. She also designed shoes and handbags for Cole Haan.

Maria used Prince racquets for many years. She won Wimbledon in 2004 with a Prince racquet. In 2011, she started endorsing Head racquets. She used Head racquets to win the French Open in 2012 and 2014. In 2013, Maria signed a three-year deal to be a brand ambassador for Porsche.

Maria launched her candy brand, Sugarpova, in 2012. Sugarpova had sales of $20 million in 2019. In 2014, Maria invested in the sunscreen brand Supergoop. She also appeared on the TV show Shark Tank in 2020. She teamed up with Mark Cuban to invest in a fitness company. Maria has also invested in other companies like UFC and Moncler. She also advises other brands.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance

Maria Sharapova played in many Grand Slam tournaments during her career. She won five Grand Slam singles titles.

Tournament	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	SR	W–L	Win %
Australian Open	1R	3R	SF	SF	F	W	A	1R	4R	F	SF	4R	F	QF	A	3R	4R	1R	1 / 16	57–15	79%
French Open	1R	QF	QF	4R	SF	4R	QF	3R	SF	W	F	W	4R	A	A	QF	A	A	2 / 14	56–12	82%
Wimbledon	4R	W	SF	SF	4R	2R	2R	4R	F	4R	2R	4R	SF	A	A	1R	1R	NH	1 / 15	46–14	77%
US Open	2R	3R	SF	W	3R	A	3R	4R	3R	SF	A	4R	A	A	4R	4R	1R	A	1 / 13	38–12	76%
Win–loss	4–4	15–3	19–4	20–3	16–4	11–2	7–3	8–4	16–4	21–3	12–3	16–3	14–3	4–1	3–1	8–4	3–3	0–1	5 / 58	197–53	79%

Grand Slam Singles Finals

Maria Sharapova played in 10 Grand Slam singles finals, winning 5 of them.

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2004	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–1, 6–4
Win	2006	US Open	Hard	Justine Henin	6–4, 6–4
Loss	2007	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	1–6, 2–6
Win	2008	Australian Open	Hard	Ana Ivanovic	7–5, 6–3
Loss	2011	Wimbledon	Grass	Petra Kvitová	3–6, 4–6
Loss	2012	Australian Open	Hard	Victoria Azarenka	3–6, 0–6
Win	2012	French Open	Clay	Sara Errani	6–3, 6–2
Loss	2013	French Open	Clay	Serena Williams	4–6, 4–6
Win	2014	French Open (2)	Clay	Simona Halep	6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4
Loss	2015	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	3–6, 6–7(5–7)

WTA Tour Championships Finals

Maria played in 3 WTA Tour Championships finals, winning 1 title.

Result	Year	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2004	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Loss	2007	Hard	Justine Henin	7–5, 5–7, 3–6
Loss	2012	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 3–6

Awards and Recognition

Film and Television Appearances

Maria Sharapova has appeared in some films and TV shows.

Film and television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2016	Chelsea	Herself	Episode: "Mission to Moscow"
2017	Maria Sharapova: The Point	Herself	Documentary
2018, 2020	Billions	Herself	2 Episodes
2018	Ocean's 8	Herself	Cameo Appearance
2019	The Morning Show	Herself	Episode: "Play the Queen"
2020	Shark Tank	Herself	Guest Shark, Episode #11.13

See also

In Spanish: María Sharápova para niños