
via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning her second round match against Karin Knapp of Italy during day four of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning her second round match against Karin Knapp of Italy during day four of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Former tennis player Maria Sharapova took the tennis world by storm upon her arrival on Tour. The Russian starlet grew at a fast pace when she arrived on the women’s game. In her second season on Tour, she won her first Grand Slam title, beating Serena Williams on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Recently, Maria Sharapova’s former coach Nick Bollettieri spoke about his former pupil and praised her for the contributions she has made to tennis. Although she did not receive too much appreciation from the tennis world, Maria was not driven by publicity and fame. At the end of the day, her records and achievements speak for themselves.

via Getty
Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after her WTA St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy 2019 tennis match on January 28, 2019 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
While talking to Tennis 365, the 89-year-old veteran stated, “Maria knows what she did. She is not someone who goes looking for all the publicity to promote her game. Maria is a wonderful individual, a beautiful girl, and let the record books speak for themselves. A career Grand Slam is special… that’s all you need to know baby.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Maria Sharapova enjoyed a glittering career
During her career, Sharapova won five Grand Slam titles. She won a Major at each of the four different venues on Tour, which helped her claim the ‘Career Grand Slam.’ The French Open happened to be the only Grand Slam event she won twice. One of the most memorable wins of her career was the 2004 Wimbledon final. She upset Serena Williams, the then World No. 1. Maria was only a 17-year-old teenager at that point.

via Getty
International Tennis player Maria Sharapova poses for a photo at Hudson News in Grand Central Station on August 21, 2018 in New York City. Hudson Group announced this summer that it will serve as the exclusive United States travel retailer for sales of her candy line at Sugarpova. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Sugarpova)
In 2020, the Russian superstar decided to hang her boots and retired from the game after her Australian Open exit. Later, in December, she announced her engagement to British businessman, Alexander Gilkes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Although she has retired from the sport, she is involved in her business ventures and often posts on social media, helping her remain in the public eye and connect with her millions of fans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT