MARIA SHARAPOVA
Born: 19 APR. 1987
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Country: Russia
From the moment Maria Sharapova stepped onto the tennis court, it was clear she was destined for greatness. Born in Russia, she quickly rose from a promising young talent to a global sports icon. Her career was marked by remarkable highs and unforgettable comebacks, making her one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. But Maria’s journey wasn’t just about winning titles and smashing serves, it was about resilience, reinvention and navigating life when the spotlight fades.
After a stellar career that spanned nearly two decades, Maria hung up her racquet following her exit from the 2020 Australian Open. With 36 career titles -including five Grand Slams-, an Olympic silver medal and a No. 1 world ranking, Maria Sharapova left a legacy both on and off the court. Yet, her accomplishments extend far beyond tennis. Her life after retirement continues to be just as captivating, as she embraces new roles as a businesswoman, partner and mother.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at her rise to fame, the battles that shaped her career, and what she’s been up to since hanging up her racket. Ready to uncover the journey of a true champion? Let’s go!
- The Early Years of Maria Sharapova
- When Did Maria Sharapova Make Her Tennis Debut?
- What Did Maria Sharapova Achieve in Tennis?
- Maria Sharapova's 36 WTA Singles Titles
- What Are Maria Sharapova's Grand Slam Titles?
- How Many Grand Slam Finals Did Maria Sharapova Lose?
- How Many Olympic Medals Did Maria Sharapova Win?
- When Did Maria Sharapova Retire?
- What’s Maria Sharapova Doing Now?
- Who is Maria Sharapova’s Husband and Does She Have Children?
The Early Years of Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russia, where her parents, Yuri and Yelena, had moved to avoid the potential radiation from the Chernobyl disaster. When Maria was three, her family moved to Sochi, a Russian seaside town that promised more opportunities.
In Sochi, Maria’s father, Yuri, became friends with Aleksandr Kafelnikov, whose son Yevgeny would later become Russia’s first world No. 1 tennis player. Aleksandr gave four-year-old Maria her first tennis racquet, sparking a love for the game. From then on, Yuri took her to practice at a local park for hours each day, where her raw talent quickly became apparent. Maria’s first coach, Yuri Yutkin, was struck by her “exceptional hand-eye coordination” and the fierce concentration she brought to every session. It was clear: Maria had something special.
At six, Maria attended a tennis clinic in Moscow led by Martina Navratilova, who recommended advanced training in Florida with renowned coach Nick Bollettieri. It was a big chance, but money was tight. Still, Yuri borrowed what he could, and in 1994, he and young Maria moved to the United States with only $700 in hand. With visa restrictions keeping her mother in Russia, Maria trained while Yuri worked various low-paying jobs to support her.
Initially, she trained with Rick Macci until IMG Academy, impressed by her potential, signed her and covered her US35.000 tuition. Finally, at age nine, Maria could focus fully on her training. These early years in Florida defined Maria Sharapova. She became known for her powerful serve, mental toughness and relentless determination.
When Did Maria Sharapova Make Her Tennis Debut?
Maria Sharapova made her professional tennis debut on April 19, 2001, just after turning 14. But her journey to the tennis spotlight began earlier. In November 2000, at just 13 years old, she captured the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls’ 16 division, earning the Rising Star Award for her exceptional promise. Sharapova’s first WTA appearance came in 2002 at the Pacific Life Open.
What Did Maria Sharapova Achieve in Tennis?
Maria Sharapova had an amazing career with 36 WTA singles titles. Her victories came in several major tournaments::
- 5 Grand Slam titles: a Wimbledon victory in 2004, a US Open title in 2006, an Australian Open championship in 2008, and two French Open titles in 2012 and 2014. With these achievements, she joined the elite group of players to complete a career Grand Slam, having won each of the four major tournaments.
- 1 WTA Finals title, with two runner-up finishes.
- 14 WTA 1000 titles, winning 56% of these top-tier events.
- 7 WTA 500 titles, with a strong 78% win rate.
- 9 WTA 250 titles, achieving an 82% success rate at these tournaments.
In total, Sharapova won 36 titles, reached 23 finals as a runner-up, made it to 59 finals, and earned an Olympic silver medal.
Maria Sharapova’s 36 WTA Singles Titles
- Japan Open (Tier III, Hard) – Defeated Anikó Kapros, 2–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–5) – September 2003
- Tournoi de Québec (Tier III, Carpet [i]) – Defeated Milagros Sequera, 6–2, retired – October 2003
- Birmingham Classic (Tier III, Grass) – Defeated Tatiana Golovin, 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 – June 2004
- Wimbledon (Grand Slam, Grass) – Defeated Serena Williams, 6–1, 6–4 – July 2004
- Korea Open (Tier IV, Hard) – Defeated Marta Domachowska, 6–1, 6–1 – September 2004
- Japan Open (Tier III, Hard) – Defeated Mashona Washington, 6–0, 6–1 – October 2004
- WTA Finals (Finals, Hard [i]) – Defeated Serena Williams, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 – November 2004
- Pan Pacific Open (Tier I, Carpet [i]) – Defeated Lindsay Davenport, 6–1, 3–6, 7–6(7–5) – February 2005
- Qatar Open (Tier II, Hard) – Defeated Alicia Molik, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 – February 2005
- Birmingham Classic (Tier III, Grass) – Defeated Jelena Janković, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 – June 2005
- Indian Wells Open (Tier I, Hard) – Defeated Elena Dementieva, 6–1, 6–2 – March 2006
- Southern California Open (Tier I, Hard) – Defeated Kim Clijsters, 7–5, 7–5 – August 2006
- US Open (Grand Slam, Hard) – Defeated Justine Henin, 6–4, 6–4 – September 2006
- Zurich Open (Tier I, Hard [i]) – Defeated Daniela Hantuchová, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 – October 2006
- Linz Open (Tier II, Hard [i]) – Defeated Nadia Petrova, 7–5, 6–2 – October 2006
- Southern California Open (Tier I, Hard) – Defeated Patty Schnyder, 6–2, 3–6, 6–0 – August 2007
- Australian Open (Grand Slam, Hard) – Defeated Ana Ivanovic, 7–5, 6–3 – January 2008
- Qatar Open (Tier I, Hard) – Defeated Vera Zvonareva, 6–1, 2–6, 6–0 – February 2008
- Amelia Island Championships (Tier II, Clay [green]) – Defeated Dominika Cibulková, 7–6(9–7), 6–3 – April 2008
- Pan Pacific Open (Premier 5, Hard) – Defeated Jelena Janković, 5–2, retired – October 2009
- U.S. National Indoor Championships (International, Hard [i]) – Defeated Sofia Arvidsson, 6–2, 6–1 – February 2010
- Internationaux de Strasbourg (International, Clay) – Defeated Kristina Barrois, 7–5, 6–1 – May 2010
- Italian Open (Premier 5, Clay) – Defeated Samantha Stosur, 6–2, 6–4 – May 2011
- Cincinnati Open (Premier 5, Hard) – Defeated Jelena Janković, 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–3 – August 2011
- Stuttgart Open (Premier, Clay [i]) – Defeated Victoria Azarenka, 6–1, 6–4 – April 2012
- Italian Open (Premier 5, Clay) – Defeated Li Na, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5) – May 2012
- French Open (Grand Slam, Clay) – Defeated Sara Errani, 6–3, 6–2 – June 2012
- Indian Wells Open (Premier M, Hard) – Defeated Caroline Wozniacki, 6–2, 6–2 – March 2013
- Stuttgart Open (Premier, Clay [i]) – Defeated Li Na, 6–4, 6–3 – April 2013
- Stuttgart Open (Premier, Clay [i]) – Defeated Ana Ivanovic, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 – April 2014
- Madrid Open (Premier M, Clay) – Defeated Simona Halep, 1–6, 6–2, 6–3 – May 2014
- French Open (Grand Slam, Clay) – Defeated Simona Halep, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 – June 2014
- China Open (Premier M, Hard) – Defeated Petra Kvitová, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 – October 2014
- Brisbane International (Premier, Hard) – Defeated Ana Ivanovic, 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–3 – January 2015
- Italian Open (Premier 5, Clay) – Defeated Carla Suárez Navarro, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 – May 2015
- Tianjin Open (International, Hard) – Defeated Aryna Sabalenka, 7–5, 7–6(10–8) – October 2017
What Are Maria Sharapova’s Grand Slam Titles?
- 2004 Wimbledon Final: On July 3, 2004, Sharapova claimed her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon by defeating Serena Williams in straight sets, 6–1, 6–4, on the grass courts of the All England Club. This historic win made her the first Russian woman to secure a Wimbledon title and thrust her into the global spotlight as a teenage sensation at just 17 years old.
- 2006 US Open Final: Sharapova secured her second Grand Slam title on September 9, 2006, at the US Open, beating Belgium’s Justine Henin 6–4, 6–4 on the hard courts of New York. This victory made her the first Russian woman to win the US Open.
- 2008 Australian Open Final: On January 26, 2008, Sharapova triumphed in her third Grand Slam final, defeating Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 7–5, 6–3 on the hard courts of the Australian Open. With this win, she became the first Russian woman to capture the Australian Open title.
- 2012 French Open Final: Sharapova completed her career Grand Slam on June 9, 2012, by defeating Italy’s Sara Errani 6–3, 6–2 in the French Open final on clay. This win solidified her place in tennis history, as she joined an elite group of players to have won all four Grand Slam titles.
- 2014 French Open Final: Sharapova won her fifth and final Grand Slam title on June 7, 2014, at the French Open. She defeated Simona Halep of Romania in a thrilling three-set match, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4, on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
How Many Grand Slam Finals Did Maria Sharapova Lose?
Maria Sharapova lost 5 Grand Slam finals during her career:
- 2007 Australian Open Final: Sharapova finished as the runner-up on January 27, 2007, losing to Serena Williams in straight sets, 1–6, 2–6, on the hard courts of Melbourne.
- 2011 Wimbledon Final: On July 2, 2011, Sharapova was defeated by Petra Kvitová of the Czech Republic, who won in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4, on the grass at Wimbledon.
- 2012 Australian Open Final: Sharapova reached the final on January 28, 2012, where she faced Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka. Despite a strong tournament, she was defeated 3–6, 0–6 on the hard courts in Melbourne.
- 2013 French Open Final: On June 8, 2013, Sharapova played her second consecutive French Open final, where she faced Serena Williams. Williams won the match in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4.
- 2015 Australian Open Final: Sharapova’s final Grand Slam runner-up finish came on January 31, 2015, when she lost to Serena Williams once again in the Australian Open final, with a score of 3–6, 6–7(5–7).
How Many Olympic Medals Did Maria Sharapova Win?
Maria Sharapova earned a silver medal in the singles tennis event at the 2012 London Olympics. She reached the final on August 4, 2012, where she faced Serena Williams of the United States on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Sharapova lost the match 0–6, 1–6.
When Did Maria Sharapova Retire?
Maria Sharapova officially retired from tennis on February 26, 2020. Her final match took place earlier that year at the Australian Open, where she was defeated in straight sets by Donna Vekić in the first round. This loss marked her third consecutive first-round exit at a Grand Slam, and her ranking dropped to No. 369, her lowest since 2002.
After the loss, Sharapova announced her retirement in an emotional essay published in Vanity Fair and Vogue, reflecting on her decision to walk away from the sport. In the piece, she shared: “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 judgement 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.”
What’s Maria Sharapova Doing Now?
After retiring from tennis in 2020, Maria Sharapova has seamlessly transitioned into a full-time businesswoman and entrepreneur. But her interests aren’t just limited to the world of sports. Throughout her tennis career, Sharapova always had one foot in the business world, launching her own confectionery brand, Sugarpova, in 2012, followed by her sunscreen line, Supergoop, in 2014. She’s since expanded her entrepreneurial portfolio, investing in various companies, including the wearable wrist and ankle weights brand, Tonal, Moonpay, and Clio Snacks.
Sharapova has also ventured into the fashion industry, joining the Board of Directors of luxury brand Moncler in 2022. She’s regularly spotted at high-profile events like the Met Gala, fashion weeks, and even major tennis tournaments.
Alongside her professional ventures, Sharapova is living a fulfilling personal life. She got engaged to businessman Alexander Gilkes in December 2020 and welcomed their son, Theodore, in July 2022.
Sharapova was recently named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.
Who is Maria Sharapova’s Husband and Does She Have Children?
Maria Sharapova is currently engaged to British entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes. The couple began their relationship in 2018 and quickly became one of the most talked-about pairs in the social scene. They got engaged in December 2020, but despite their long engagement, they have not yet married. In a recent interview, Maria revealed that they are in no rush to get married. She shared, “We were going to have a big wedding and then I got pregnant, and so we haven’t actually scheduled a new wedding yet. Perhaps in the next couple of years.”
As for children, Maria and Alexander welcomed their first son, Theodore, in July 2022. The retired tennis star called the experience “the most beautiful, challenging, and rewarding gift our little family could ask for.” Maria and Alexander are already embracing this new chapter of their lives as parents.
