Biography
Maria Sharapova is a Russian tennis player, former world number one. Five-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments, vice-champion of the Olympic Games.
Born in 1987 in Nyagan, she started playing tennis at the age of 4. In October 1993, Sharapova managed to play with the legendary Martina Navratilova, who saw enormous potential in the young tennis player and advised Maria’s father to send the girl to Nick Bollettieri’s American Tennis Academy. In 1995, Maria and her father moved to the USA. Already at her first tournament, the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships, Sharapova won, and the Russian played with tennis players who were 3 years older than her.
In October 2003, Sharapova won the WTA tournament for the first time in her career, and in 2004 she won Wimbledon and became number 8 in the world. Maria continues to collect titles and rise in the world rankings; in August 2005, Sharapova became number 1 in the world for the first time in her career. A year later, Maria won her second TBS - US Open. In 2008, Sharapova won the Australian Open and won the Fed Cup as part of the Russian national team. But due to a shoulder injury, he refuses to go to the Beijing Olympics. After recovering from injury, Maria won several more titles, including victory at Roland Garros, and went to the Olympic Games in London, where she took silver.
The shoulder injury turned out to be chronic, which is why Sharapova missed a huge number of tournaments. But she still won another major - Roland Garros 2014. In 2016, she admitted to using meldonium and received a 15-month disqualification. After returning to the sport, Sharapova won only once at the WTA tournament (in Tianjin); she never went beyond the 4th round at the Grand Slam tournaments.
On February 26, 2021, Maria announced her retirement.
Comes from childhood
Let's continue our short biography of Maria Sharapova, looking into her childhood.
Masha’s parents are from Gomel, from where they moved to the small town of Nyagan, Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug, where this treasure was born.
However, just a couple of years later they abruptly change direction and move to Sochi.
Being a little interested in tennis, Masha’s father decided to involve his daughter in this sport. It so happened that his taxi partner was Alexander Kafelnikov (the father of that same champion Kafelnikov).
It was from him that Yuri heard more than once that little Masha definitely has abilities. To see for himself, he takes his daughter to Moscow to attend Martina Navratilova’s master class.
Of all the participants, the two-time Grand Slam winner singled out Masha, calling her the most promising girl. She was only 6 years old then.
Without thinking twice, young taxi driver Yuri Sharapov, with only $700 in his pocket, rushed from the resort of Sochi to arrange for his daughter to study at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy. So Masha became the youngest tennis player in professional sports.
Achievements of Maria Sharapova:
- Winner of the “career helmet”: victories at Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006), Australian Open (2008) and Roland Garros (2012, 2014).
- Vice-champion of the Olympic Games (2012).
- Winner of 39 WTA tournaments (36 in singles).
- Winner of the Fed Cup (2008), finalist of the Fed Cup (2015).
- Finalist of two junior Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open and Wimbledon (2002).
All news
Top
"Children's cheeks." Sharapova reacted to her photos from the victorious Wimbledon 2004
Tennis4 July
Sharapova: “Novak and Rafa are champions forever”
Tennis12 June
Utyasheva surpassed Zagitova in the ranking of athletes trusted by Russians
Other sports27 May
Tinkov spoke about the failed contract with Sharapova: “The agent talked her out of it so as not to get involved with the Russians”
Tennis18 April
Sharapova: “I was very pleased to spend more time with family and friends”
TennisMarch 3
Sharapova is in the top 10 richest self-made women in Russia
TennisMarch 1
The March issue of ForbesWoman came out with Sharapova on the cover. Exactly a year ago, the tennis player retired
TennisFebruary 26
The price of Sharapova's engagement ring has been announced
Tennis19 January
Kudermetova called Khabib and Sharapova her idols
Tennis12 January
Sharapova: “Every day I am surprised that I ended my career on time”
TennisJanuary 2
Sharapova announced her engagement to a British businessman. Gilks is 8 years older than her: photo
TennisDecember 17, 2020
Sharapova entered the top 10 most mentioned athletes on Twitter in 2021
TennisDecember 11, 2020
Zagitova is recognized as the most popular athlete in Russia according to Match TV. She is ahead of Sharapova and Medvedeva
Figure skatingNovember 4, 2020
Utyasheva became 1st in the ranking of Russians’ trust in sports, Tutberidze dropped out of the top 10
Other sportsNovember 4, 2020
Sharapova bought a ranch in Santa Barbara
Tennis19 October 2020
“I would never go to a Soviet hospital.” Sharapova's ex-coach supported Querrey, who fled Russia
Tennis15 October 2020
Zagitova, Medvedeva and Sharapova nominated for the title of the most popular athlete in Russia according to Match TV
Figure skating14 October 2020
Sharapova is among the richest self-made women in the United States
Tennis13 October 2020
"50 shades of grey?" Subscribers reacted to the photo of Sharapova hanging by her legs
Tennis9 September 2020
Sharapova: “Every morning I woke up with the goal of being a champion, but I felt that tennis was not forever”
Tennis27 August 2020
Fedun's daughter is among the three richest women in Russia, Sharapova is in 25th place
Football27 August 2020
Maria Sharapova conducted a boxing training session, working on her paws: video
Tennis9 August 2020
A Japanese magazine has chosen the top 5 Russian beauties: 3 athletes and the ex-girlfriend of Cristiano Ronaldo were included in the ranking
Figure skatingAugust 4, 2020
Sharapova named the culprit of her disqualification for doping
Tennis23 July 2020
“I forgot how tough you can be.” Sharapova took up boxing on the beach
TennisJuly 17, 2020
Khabib topped the ranking of the most successful stars in Russia under 40, Ovechkin is 4th, Zagitova is 31st
MMA / BoxingJune 25, 2020
Sharapova again starred in the American series “Billions”
Tennis17 June 2020
Gauff gave a speech about racial injustice after the murder of an African-American in the United States. She was supported by Sharapova
Tennis4 June 2020
Ivanovich: “I would like to replay the 2008 Australian Open final against Sharapova”
Tennis3 June 2020
Vekic: “Sharapova is a champion, no matter what anyone says”
Tennis1 June 2020
Masha Sharapova after 17 years
A short biography of Maria Sharapova in her youth is no less interesting. Sharapova's entourage constantly emphasizes that the tennis player has the character of a fighter. Even at the academy, Masha was put into sparring with boys so that they would be in good shape. And all because she was the most talented student there too.
Already at the age of 17, Sharapova became the first Russian woman to win Wimbledon. She was able to beat Serena Williams, the strongest tennis player in the world, with a crushing score.
At the age of 18, Maria becomes the first Russian tennis player to rise to the top of the rankings, becoming the first racket in the world. And although Anastasia Myskina became the first Grand Slam winner, Sharapova is the only Russian woman who was number one in world tennis five times in a row.
In 2010 and 2015, Maria became the highest paid tennis player in the world. The most prestigious brands in the world were queuing up to sign a contract with Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova's most important rival on the court has always been Serena Williams. The beginning of the feud between Sharapova and Williams dates back to the 2004 Wimbledon final, where the young Russian sensationally beat Williams. What hurt Williams most was not the fact of her defeat from the young Russian, but the fact that Sharapova accidentally heard the American crying in the locker room after the defeat. Williams then said, “I’ll never lose to that bitch again.” Sharapova spoke about this story in vivid detail in her autobiography.
Maria’s autobiography was published in 2021. The book is called “Unstoppable. My life". In addition to the rivalry with Williams, the book talks about other interesting moments from the career and personal life of the Russian tennis player.
For example, in 2021, Maria got into a doping scandal. Meldonium was found in the tennis player’s body, which was included in the list of prohibited substances just in the same year. Sharapova did not know about this and continued to take the drug to maintain the functioning of the cardiovascular system. As a result, the Russian athlete was disqualified for 1.3 years.
Materials
Sharapova is the last Russian to win Roland Garros. She broke up with the basketball player because of her victory speech
But she collected a career Grand Slam.
Roland Garros12 June
For the first time since 2015, a Russian tennis player will play for the Grand Slam title. Nastya Pavlyuchenkova, what are you doing?!
Just a bomb!
Roland Garros10 June
The billionaire who defended Maria Sharapova will lead the world skiing. What is known about Johan Elias
The World Cup is a reality every year.
Other sports5 June
The great tennis player Sharapova: victories at the Helmets, disqualification for meldonium, romances with stars
Maria's story.
Olympic Games28 May
The most controversial, but also the kindest
It is impossible to miss Sharapova’s unique feature in her biography - her screams on the court, reaching up to 105 dB, which is commensurate with the sound of an airplane jet engine.
At the same time, outside the court, Masha is always calm and smiling; she talks to everyone in a quiet and gentle voice. For example, Robert Lansdorp, her former coach, speaks enthusiastically about his pupil:
“Masha is the kindest, most wonderful and friendly person I know. Next to her the soul rests.”
Finally, Maria is often called the “most American” Russian woman, with a perfect American accent. Well, how can one not note that this is the most controversial person, as those who know her well say.
Maria has lived abroad almost all her adult life. At the same time, she remembers the Russian language perfectly.
Read also “Brief biography of Alexander Ovechkin”
Maria became the very first woman to whom the country gave the honor and trust to march with the state flag of the Russian Federation at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
And in February 2020, Maria Sharapova announced that she was retiring from her career: “Tennis, I say goodbye.” For some, this was expected news, since due to injuries the athlete suffered defeat after defeat and rapidly descended in the WTA rankings, but for others, Sharapova’s departure from the world of tennis came as a big surprise. Be that as it may, people continue to talk about Masha, she is still admired as an athlete, a public figure and, of course, as a beautiful person.
The most beautiful and sweetest is our Masha
How not to note that Maria has been ranked first in the ranking of the most beautiful tennis players in the world and in the top of the most beautiful athletes on the planet for many years. Masha is not only a beautiful and incredibly charming woman, but also the owner of a simply stunning figure.
Interestingly, the athlete considers herself a passionate fan of fast food, and she calls grilled cheese sandwiches her favorite dish. Maria also opened a confectionery business producing chocolates and lollipops under a brand with the original name Sugarpova.
Rumor has it that she was so attached to the idea that she even wanted to change her last name to Shugarpov, but she was dissuaded in time.
During her biography, Maria signed dozens of lucrative contracts. It has multi-year agreements with Porshe, Nike and a dozen other companies. For example, a powerful 8-year contract with Nike brought Maria more than $70 million. If we talk about women's sports, it is Sharapova who has the most expensive and long-term contracts.
Social activity
In 2007, Sharapova became a goodwill ambassador for the UN Development Program and donated $100 thousand to its projects related to overcoming the negative effects of the Chernobyl disaster. Subsequently, in collaboration with this organization, she provided financial support to students from regions of Belarus affected by the consequences of Chernobyl.
In 2012, it launched sales of chewing marmalade and other sweets under its own brand – Sugarpova. Products are sold in more than 25 countries around the world. Part of the profits is transferred to the Maria Sharapova Foundation: it provides assistance to young people living in areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
Who is Sharapova dating now?
Now Maria Sharapova’s personal life has finally improved.
Maria and her current British lover, 39-year-old Alexander Gilkes, founder of the Paddle 8 auction house, amazed Internet users with photos from their vacation in the Italian resort of Positano back in 2021. These were head-over-heels photographs of a couple in love, which left no doubt about the reality of this union. And two years later, Maria announced her engagement to her boyfriend, putting an end to all speculation about an affair with Gilkes.
Alexander Gilkes is a true and “native” English gentleman, one of the most eligible bachelors in modern Britain. Graduated from Eton College and the University of Bristol. He is friends with Prince William and other equally crowned and popular persons. Knows the Russian language and the history of Russia, loves the Russian bathhouse.
Sports career
The first year of living in a foreign country was not easy. Climate change, the need to communicate in a foreign language, a different mentality - all this was difficult to get used to . The father had to work hard to pay for his daughter’s education. However, after some time, the life of the future sports star fell into a rut.
At the age of eleven, the girl was lucky enough to sign a contract with IMG. The debut performance at the junior tournament, in which the participants were 16 years old, took place in 2001 in Sarasota. The girl failed to win, but a year later Sharapova defeated her opponent, who was on the list of the best athletes in the world. This success gave her confidence in her own abilities.
In 2004, victory at the Wimbledon tournament, one of the most prestigious tennis competitions, made Sharapova a star and the whole world learned who Maria Sharapova was. She defeated the famous tennis player Serena Williams, who held the title for two years. Subsequent victories made the girl the eighth racket in the world. Achievements of the athlete:
- silver medal at the Olympic Games;
- youngest junior finalist in tennis history;
- victory in 39 WTA tournaments;
- Grand Slam winner;
- finalist and winner of the Federation Cup.
