Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time in 2005, at the age of 18, becoming the first Russian female tennis player to top the singles rankings. She is an impressive athlete who has won many accolades, including five Grand Slam titles and an Olympic silver medal, but more importantly she has achieved a rare level of success in tennis and is known for her mental toughness and work dedication on and off the courts.
Sharapova began playing tennis as a young child. Following tennis star Martina Navratilova’s suggestion, she moved at the age of 7 with her father to Florida where she quickly received a tennis academy scholarship. Her parents worked hard to help her achieve her goal. And it paid off: in 2001, at the age of just 14, she went pro and as of today has won a total of 36 career WTA titles.
But despite her incredible rise to the top in the tennis world, she has faced numerous challenges. In 2016, for example, she failed a doping test after testing positive for meldonium, a recently banned drug. She ended up suspended from tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation, a period which was reduced to 15 months upon appeal.
She returned to competition in 2017 but struggled to regain her form and continued to be plagued by injuries. She eventually announced her retirement in 2020.
Although she might have called for retirement a bit early, she undeniably left a mark in women’s tennis. And likewise she is doing the same as a businesswoman and investor, not letting setbacks hold her back from success. Over the course of her tennis career, she accumulated an impressive net worth with her tennis winnings and sponsorships with major names such as Nike and Evian. She has also launched her own candy business called Sugarpova.
“I have always been a curious person, and I think this natural desire to learn and interest in trying new things is what really pushes me to take on new challenges,” she said.
In 2017, she published an autobiography called Unstoppable: My Life So Far, and more recently, she announced a partnership with leading global tech wellness company, Therabody. She will serve as an advisor to help the brand with global growth strategy.
While some athletes struggle to hit their stride upon retirement, Sharapova seems to have found the right balance between her professional career and business interests.