Maria Sharapova‘s love for clay courts is immense. Whether it’s conquering two French Open titles on-court or stunning fans with her unique red and black dresses, Sharapova is known to perfectly blend elegance with athleticism. And even four years after her retirement, her statements about her dress preference on clay courts just a few days before the French Open made us all nostalgic. She took to her Instagram and shared an intriguing photo on her social media, declaring her love for a unique dress.

The former World No. 1 posted a photo of a runway model of Vogue, captioning it, “This would be chic against the red clay.” The picture featured the model wearing a voluminous brown top. The oversized shoulder silhouette top also had puffed sleeves and was carefully tucked into a brown pleated skirt. Along with the skirt, the model is also wearing a black boot that is raised up to the thigh. Together, the whole look stands out for its unusual structure and high-fashion designs.

Subsequently, the dress caught the attention of the former Russian player, who is also a style icon in tennis. Especially during her partnership with Nike, which resulted in a lot of her exceptional tennis outfits. Remember, during the French Open of 2012, where she wore a sleek black dress? Well, it was only the beginning of her style statements in Paris.

Soon, she wore the Nike Premier Maria Tennis Dress in Canyon Purple, Pure Violet and Volt colors the next year. Plus, princess seams along the sides flatter every figure while mesh panels down the sides and mesh wrapping around the bust add much needed ventilation in the hot summer sun. For Maria Sharapova, her style on-court is not only a fashion statement but also a representation of something beyond.

Maria Sharapova reveals how her style “really represents how you feel”

Beyond the clay courts, Maria Sharapova has also left an edible mark on various other tournaments. The Australian Open is one of them. Be it her 2010s peacock motif look or 2019’s faux-tie dye ensemble, Sharapova’s style statements made headlines in the tennis world. Her black attire in the U.S. Open was also one of the most memorable outfits that made history in the sport.

Talking about her style, she once said, “Showing my personality and style on court was one thing, because it really represents how you feel and the confidence that you put forward when you play, which is so important.” 

As Maria Sharapova retired from playing tennis, her impact on the sport extended beyond her titles and rankings. And her recent statement further emphasizes why that is the case.