IPTL Profiles: Maria Sharapova (Japan Warriors)

Maria Sharapova’s stunning good looks and equally stunning tennis skill have awed fans and foes alike since she turned pro back in 2001 at the age of 14.

Maria was born on April 19, 1987 in Nyagan, Siberia, Russia. Her family had fled their home in Gomel following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Maria and her father Yuri emigrated to Miami 1994 after her dad realized Maria’s potential in tennis. Neither spoke English and Yuri only had $700 in his pocket. Since Maria was too young to enroll in a tennis academy, Yuri balanced working odd jobs and coaching his daughter. Maria received a scholarship in 1995 at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — the same school that produced the likes of Andre Agassi and the Williams sisters.

Sharapova turned pro at the age of 14 in 2001 and claimed her first WTA win two years later 2003 AIG Japan Open. She also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon on her first attempt that same year. Determined to win, Maria again played at Wimbledon in 2004 and won her first Grand Slam title at the age of 17, becoming Russia’s first Wimbledon champion.  

2005 proved big for Maria Sharapova as she became the first female Russian tennis player to ever be No. 1 in the world. In 2007, a shoulder injury sidelined Maria and the injury contributed to a string of losses. Maria had surgery in 2009 to fix the shoulder, and in 2011 finally rose up the ranks again and became No. 4 since 2007.

2012 became a key point for the post-injury Maria Sharapova as she defeated Sara Errani in the women’s French Open. That same year proved fruitful as Maria’s debut in the Summer Olympics earned her a silver medal, losing the gold to Serena Williams.

DID YOU KNOW? Maria Sharapova was originally a lefty, but switched to right. Sometimes, she would use left-handed forehands in matches.

Maria grunts a lot during matches. Her loudest was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle) on June 21, 2005 at Wimbledon.

She received the nickname “Iron Maiden” and “Russian Steel” for her focus. Serena Williams once said of Maria, “She doesn’t back off. She keeps giving it her all.”

In 2007, Maria was named UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and made $100,000 cash donations to help with Chernobyl recovery projects. Her generous nature doesn’t stop there: she donated $56,000 to people affected during the infamous Russian school hostage crisis in Beslan.