Maria Sharapova may be famous for winning Wimbledon at 17, being an Olympic medalist, the 2016 doping saga, being an investor after retirement, but most importantly she was renowned for being a Fashion and Sporting Icon during her career. Particularly renowned for her collaborations with Nike, her iconic 2012 US Open day-and-night outfit continues to inspire. Now, a young tennis player has taken a bold step, choosing to replicate this legendary look on court.

Destanee Aiava, a young Australian star, recently wore Maria Sharapova’s 2012 US Open liquid pink outfit at her Australian Open 2025 qualifying match. Which brought her luck. The 24-year-old Australian tennis star defeated 10th seed Anna Bodgan, 6-4, 6-2. She advanced to the second round of the qualifying tournament in style. In the second round, she will now face Panna Udvardy of Hungary. While the Aussie star’s best result at the Australian Open has been the first round, she will be looking to change things and make her way further into the tournament this year.

Maria Sharapova’s iconic pink dress turned heads in 2012. Sharapova wore it during her journey to the US Open. The kit brought her luck. However, Sharapova could only reach the semi-finals. Victoria Azarenka defeated Sharapova 6-3, 2-6, 4-6 in the match. This was Azarenka’s second win over Sharapova in a grand slam in the same year (the first one being at the finals of the Australian Open, which also marked her first major title).

Nike and Maria Sharapova share a long history. Nike signed Sharapova when she was 11 years old. Back in 2010, the eight-year, $70 million deal set records. Sharapova became one of the highest-paid female athletes. In 2016, Nike briefly suspended its partnership after her doping ban. Sharapova later clarified the violation was unintentional. Nike decided to continue their partnership after her explanation.

While many have replicated Maria Sharapova’s iconic on-court dresses, the Russian’s brilliant attire has also inspired a young star to play tennis.

Maria Sharapova’s iconic dress inspires young Indian star to play tennis

Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, a 22-year-old tennis star from Hyderabad, India, hails from a perfect sporting background where her mother was a professional basketball player and her father excelled in cricket and karate. The current Indian National champion in singles and doubles revealed that former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova played a key role in motivating her to pick tennis. However, it was not Sharapova’s trophies or matches that caught her attention; it was her iconic style.

“I was drawn to Maria Sharapova’s elegant outfits. I aspired to wear such beautiful dresses, which fuelled my passion for tennis at the age of 11. Tennis not only allowed me to compete but also to don those pretty dresses. Thus, my journey into sports was quite serendipitous,” she said.

Back in February 2024, the Indian star kick-started the most-awaited WTA 125K L&T Mumbai Open as she secured two impressive victories in the qualifying round. For Shrivalli, her entry into the world of tennis was a happy accident. “Playing tennis gave me the opportunity to be able to wear pretty dresses. So, for me, getting into sports was pretty accidental,” she added.

Thus, Maria Sharapova, a style icon on and off the court, continues to inspire generations. Her impact on players like Shrivalli proves that her influence goes beyond just winning matches and titles. It shows how fashion can motivate young athletes to pursue their dreams.