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‘I Was An Immigrant…didn’t Feel Like I Always Belong’ – Maria Sharapova Confesses About Atypical Early Tour Days

Published 03/01/2024, 4:31 AM EST

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Tennis legend Maria Sharapova has always stayed in conversations, even after her retirement. While the WTA star lived a life full of amazing achievements, glory, respect, and immense earnings, there is no doubt that she left an unforgettable mark on the tennis world. But did you know about the struggles that she had to undergo, especially because of being different from others?

Recently, Sharapova appeared in an interview in which she had an open conversation with baseball legend Alex Rodriguez. As the discussions took a personal turn, she revealed the intricacies of her life as an immigrant.

Maria Sharapova talks about the differences in her life compared to her peers

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In a recent interview, tennis legend Maria Sharapova gave out the backend details of her journey. Narrating the stories behind her unique upbringing and immigrant experience, Sharapova explained how her journey was different from her peers, recognizing the fact that her path diverged from the regular ones.

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“I knew that what I was doing was different to other families to other children, I knew that I had a different path. And I was living almost I mean, it was a dream. And but I had a very clear vision,” she mentioned, explaining how she had a feeling of being different than others.

Despite the differences, the tennis legend also explained how she started liking her situation. She said, “And I was talented, but I wasn’t as physically strong as other children. And I love this idea of being different.” This revelation also led to her acknowledgment of being different as an immigrant. “And I accepted that I didn’t have a typical upbringing that I was an immigrant that I came to the United States as a young girl, and I didn’t feel like I always belong,” she added.

As the tennis legend opened up about the unique perspective of cherishing differences rather than criticizing them, she set an example that would surely be of great help to the young enthusiasts.

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Sharapova ‘didn’t see’ her mother for two years

The chapters of struggle in Maria Sharapova’s life weren’t limited to just being different from others. While the tennis star had to go through a lot during her days, she spoke about how she didn’t see her mother for two long years during her initial years in the world of tennis.

“But then it takes years and years of practice and grinding. And a lot of losing which sets you up for success and victories. When I got to compete, I didn’t see my mother for two years,” she mentioned, revealing her separation from her mother while she was focusing on building herself.

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Carrying the motivational journey as an entrepreneur now, Maria Sharapova still remains an inspiration for countless young players.

Read More: Maria Sharapova’s Ex-Agent Recollects the Unforgettable Moment of Her Father’s Selfless Decision to Call It Quits on Coaching the WTA Star

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

901Articles

One take at a time

Akshay Kapoor, a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, excels in crafting pieces that set new trends. His analytical skills riding on the back of certification in Digital Marketing help inject in-depth research as he covers the business undertakings of Tennis stars. Akshay’s articles touch the entire tennis spectrum, from iconic figures like Djokovic and emerging talents such as Holger Rune and Coco Gauff.
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Edited by:

Shudh Mukherjee