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{{Short description|Russian former tennis player (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox Tennis player
{{Redirect|Sharapova|other uses|Sharapov (surname)}}
| playername =Maria Yuryevna Sharapova
{{family name hatnote|Yuryevna|Sharapova|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
| nickname = '''Masha'''
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
| image = ]
{{Infobox tennis biography
| country = {{RUS}}
| residence = ], ], ] | name = Maria Sharapova
| datebirth = {{birth date and age|1987|4|19}} | image = Collision 2024 - VR7 1035 (53801820852) (cropped).jpg
| placebirth = {{flagicon|URS}} ], ] | caption = Sharapova in 2024
| native_name_lang = ru
| height = {{height|m=1.88}}<ref name=tenniscom>{{cite web|url=http://www.mariasharapova.com/defaultflash.sps|title=Players / Women / Profile Maria Sharapova - Russia}}</ref>
| weight = {{convert|59.1|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name=tenniscom/> | native_name = Мария Шарапова
| full_name = {{transliteration|ru|Mariya Yuryevna Sharapova}}
| Hair Color = blonde
| Eye color = green | country = {{flagu|Russia}}
| turnedpro = ], ] | residence = Florida and California, US
| retired = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|04|19|df=y}}
| plays = Right-handed; two-handed backhand | birth_place = ], ], ]
| height = {{height|cm=188}}<ref name="wtatennis">{{cite web|title=Maria Sharapova|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/310137/maria-sharapova|work=WTA Tennis}}</ref>
| careerprizemoney = ]11,376,478
| singlesrecord = 282-66 | coach =
| turnedpro = 19 April 2001<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| singlestitles = 17
| retired = 26 February 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=Maria Sharapova retirement|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/tennis-world-reacts-to-maria-sharapovas-retirement-at-age-32/news-story/419212fbad96319d3dc694971d752229|work=news.com.au|date=26 February 2020|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>
| highestsinglesranking = No.1 (], ])
| plays = Right-handed (two-handed backhand), born left-handed
| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' (2008)
| FrenchOpenresult = SF (2007) | careerprizemoney = $38,777,962
* ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Career Prize Money Leaders|url=http://wtafiles.wtatennis.com/pdf/rankings/All_Career_Prize_Money.pdf|work=]|access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>
| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' (2004)
| singlesrecord = {{tennis record|won=645|lost=171}}<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| USOpenresult = '''W''' (2006)
| doublesrecord = 23-16 | singlestitles = 36
| highestsinglesranking = ] (22 August 2005)<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| doublestitles = 3
| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' (])
| highestdoublesranking = 41 (], ])
| FrenchOpenresult = '''W''' (], ])
| updated = ], ]
| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' (])
}}
| USOpenresult = '''W''' (])
| Othertournaments = yes
| Olympicsresult = F (])
| WTAChampionshipsresult = '''W''' (])
| doublesrecord = 23–17 (57.5%)<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| doublestitles = 3<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| highestdoublesranking = No. 41 (14 June 2004)<ref name="wtatennis"/>
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 2R (], ])
| USOpenDoublesresult = 2R (])
| Mixed = yes
| mixedrecord = 2–1 (66.7%)
| mixedtitles = 0
| USOpenMixedresult = QF (])
| Team = yes
| FedCupresult = '''W''' (])
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Russia}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|]}}
{{MedalSilver|]|]}}
| module={{Infobox person
| embed = yes
| signature = Maria Sharapova signature.png
}}}}
'''Maria Yuryevna Sharapova''' ({{langx|ru|Мария Юрьевна Шарапова|{{transliteration|ru|Mariya Yuryevna Sharapova}}}}, {{IPA|ru|mɐˈrʲijə ʂɐˈrapəvə|pron|Maria_sharapova.ogg}}; born 19 April 1987) is a Russian former ] ] player. She competed on the ] from 2001 to 2020 and was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the ] (WTA) for 21 weeks. She is one of ten women to achieve the ]. She is also an ], having won silver in ] at the ]. She has been considered as one of the best female tennis players of her generation.


Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on 22 August 2005 at the age of 18, becoming the first Russian woman to top the singles rankings, and last held the position on 8 July 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/Notes&Netcords/2012/july16.pdf|title=Notes& Netcords|date=16 July 2012|publisher=WTA|access-date=19 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106223920/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/Notes%26Netcords/2012/july16.pdf|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Maria-Sharapova-reclaims-world-number-one-ranking/tabid/415/articleID/257186/Default.aspx|title=Maria Sharapova reclaims world number one ranking|publisher=MediaWorks TV|work=3News|date=8 June 2012|access-date=4 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728161149/http://www.3news.co.nz/Maria-Sharapova-reclaims-world-number-one-ranking/tabid/415/articleID/257186/Default.aspx|archive-date=28 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> She won five ] titles — two at the ] and one each at the ], ], and the ]. She won 36 titles in total, including the year-end championships on her debut in ]. She also won three doubles titles. Although she played under the banner of Russia with the WTA, she has lived in and been a United States ] since 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/8728691/US-Open-2011-Elena-Baltacha-warns-Heather-Watson-of-the-extreme-intensity-of-Maria-Sharapova.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/8728691/US-Open-2011-Elena-Baltacha-warns-Heather-Watson-of-the-extreme-intensity-of-Maria-Sharapova.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=US Open 2011: Elena Baltacha warns Heather Watson of the extreme intensity of Maria Sharapova|work=The Telegraph| first =Simon | last = Briggs|date=28 August 2013|access-date= 4 May 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
'''Maria Yuryevna Sharápova''' ({{lang-ru|Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова}} {{Audio|Maria_sharapova.ogg|listen}}) (born ], ]) is a ]n professional ] player and a former ]. As of ], ], she is the fifth-ranked female player in the world. At the end of 2006, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.<ref name="highestpaid">{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2403872&page=1
|title=The Highest Paid Female Athlete On The Planet; Why Sharapova Is So Hot|work=ABC News|first=John|last=Martin|date=], ]|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref>


Sharapova failed a ] at the ], testing positive for ], a substance that had been banned (effective 1 January 2016) by the ] (WADA). On 8 June 2016, she was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the ] (ITF).<ref>{{cite news|title= Maria Sharapova failed drugs test at Australian Open|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/35750285 |publisher=BBC|date=8 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="ITF prov">{{cite web |url= http://www.itftennis.com/news/225826.aspx |title= Press release: Tennis Anti-Doping Programme statement regarding Maria Sharapova |publisher= International Tennis Federation |date= 7 March 2016 |access-date= 15 March 2016 |archive-date= 8 January 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190108212426/https://www.itftennis.com/news/225826.aspx |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Maria Sharapova banned for two years for failed drugs test but will appeal|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/36482288|publisher=BBC|date= 8 June 2016}}</ref> On 4 October 2016, the suspension was reduced to 15 months, starting from the date of the failed test, as the ] found that she had committed "no significant fault" and that she had taken the substance "based on a doctor's recommendation... with good faith belief that it was appropriate and compliant with the relevant rules".<ref name="WTATennis.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5949604/title/cas-reduce-sharapova-suspension-to-15-months |title=CAS Reduce Sharapova Suspension to 15 Months |publisher=WTATennis |access-date= 4 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="edition.cnn.com">{{cite web |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/04/tennis/tennis-sharapova-cas-drugs/ |title=Maria Sharapova's drugs ban cut to 15 months on appeal|date=4 October 2016 |publisher=CCN|access-date= 4 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="WTATennis">{{cite web|url= http://www.wtatennis.com/content/inside-maria-sharapovas-cas-appeal-decision-reduce-ban-0 |title= Everything you need to know about Maria Sharapova's appeal, what the CAS found, and when the former No. 1 can return to the tour |publisher= Wtatennis |access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> She returned to the WTA Tour on 26 April 2017 at the ].
Sharapova has won three ] singles titles. In 2004, she beat ] to take the ] title at the age of 17. Two years later, she defeated ] in the final of the ]. At the ], she beat ] in the final.


Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in the '']''. She has appeared in many advertisements, including those for Nike, Prince, and Canon, and has been the face of several ]s, most notably ]. Since February 2007, she has been a ], concerned specifically with the ]. In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by '']''<ref>{{cite news|title=30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future – Maria Sharapova|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2079150_2079148_2079118,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625125520/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2079150_2079148_2079118,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2011|work=]|access-date=19 August 2011|author=William Lee Adams|date=22 June 2011}}</ref> and in March 2012 was named one of the "]" by ]. According to ], she was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years and earned {{USD}}285 million (including prize money) since she turned professional in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/08/12/the-worlds-highest-paid-female-athletes-2015/#2782d7397b11|title=The World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2015|work=Forbes|access-date=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2016/03/08/how-maria-sharapova-earned-285-mill-during-her-tennis-career/#1ddef49766fd|title=How Maria Sharapova Earned $285 Million During Her Tennis Career|work=Forbes|author=Kurt Badenhausen|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> In 2018, she launched a new program to mentor women entrepreneurs.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/daniellerossingh/2018/03/08/maria-sharapova-to-mentor-women-business-owners/#578584bd00de |title=Maria Sharapova To Mentor Women Business Owners|last= Rossingh|first= Danielle|work= Forbes|access-date= 11 March 2018}}</ref>
==Playing style==
{{TOC limit|2}}
Sharapova has been labeled as a power baseliner by tennis critics and fans.<ref></ref> She is noted for having an excellent double-handed backhand and serves, particularly for the power and placement of these shots. She is also noted for having a good forehand. Likewise, critics claim that for her height, Sharapova has decent agility on-court.<ref></ref> Being an offensive player, Sharapova is usually able to overpower her opponents or keep them on the run with sharp angles from the baseline. Because of this agressive play, she excels on the fast-playing grass and hard courts, but is not as dangerous on clay (indeed, as of January 2008, she is yet to reach a WTA final on the surface). This is because she is not among the strongest of defensive players. She can lose precision on her groundstrokes when she is put on the run herself, a weakness that the best all-around players will exploit. Sharapova is also not a natural volleyer. Instead, she typically uses a powerful "swinging" volley for net approaches. Sharapova usually serves for placement, but uses enough power on her first and second serve that attacking that stroke is very difficult for her opponents. She has been trying to develop her "all-power" game, while also adding in slice, drop shots and drop volleys.


==Early life==
Due to shoulder injuries, Sharapova adopted a new service action with a shorter backswing after Wimbledon 2007. Her first and second serve became less effective during the majority of the 2007 season. Previously, she had an elongated backswing to generate power on her serve. However, as a trade-off, the swing also placed incredible strain on her shoulder, leading to Sharapova's shoulder injury at the beginning of the 2007 season. With her shoulder injury apparently healed, Sharapova has since returned to her elongated service motion, and her serve has been more effective in 2008.
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova was born on 19 April 1987, in ], Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Her parents, Yuri Sharapov and Yelena, are from ], Byelorussian SSR. Concerned about the regional effects of the 1986 ], they left their hometown shortly before Maria was born.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wtatour/2309886/Sharapova-still-haunted-by-Chernobyl.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wtatour/2309886/Sharapova-still-haunted-by-Chernobyl.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sharapova still haunted by Chernobyl|publisher=The Telegraph|date=27 March 2007|access-date=26 February 2020|author=Mark Hodgkinson}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="ITH_2007_08_13">{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/lib/14164248/|publisher=]|script-title=ru:Шарапова, Мария|trans-title=Sharapova, Maria|language=ru|access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref>


===Introduction to tennis===
Sharapova is ambidextrous and played left-handed until she was ten years old, before deciding to play right-handed. Although she almost always employs a right-handed forehand and double-handed backhand, she has one of the most accurate double-handed backhand shots and is known to occasionally hit left-handed shots as a result of her early left-handed training. She has also been criticised for her on-court "grunting," reaching 101 decibels (the volume of a police siren) during a match at Wimbledon 2005.<ref></ref>
In 1990, when Sharapova was three, the family moved to ], Russia. Her father, Yuri, befriended Aleksandr Kafelnikov, whose son ] would go on to win two Grand Slam singles titles and become Russia's first world No. 1 ranked tennis player. Aleksandr gave Sharapova her first tennis racquet in 1991 when she was four, whereupon she began practicing regularly with her father at a local park.<ref name="times">{{cite news|author=Paul Kimmage|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3177376.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918015756/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3177376.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2008|title=The Big Interview: Maria Sharapova|work=]|date=13 January 2008|access-date=23 July 2008|location=London}}</ref> Maria took her first tennis lessons with veteran Russian coach Yuri Yutkin, who was instantly impressed when he saw her play, noting her "exceptional ]".<ref name="Article">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-11732071-masha-was-a-star-at-four.do |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707185603/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-11732071-masha-was-a-star-at-four.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2011 |author=Will Stewart |work=London Evening Standard |location=UK |title='Masha' was a star at four |date=2 July 2004 |access-date=12 June 2010 }}</ref>


===Start of professional training===
==Career==
In 1993, at the age of six, Sharapova attended a tennis clinic in Moscow run by ], who recommended professional training with ] at the ] in ], Florida. Bollettieri had previously trained players such as ], ], and ].<ref name="times"/> With money tight, Yuri Sharapov borrowed the sum that would enable him and his daughter, neither of whom could speak English, to travel to the United States, which they did in 1994.<ref name="Article" /> Visa restrictions prevented Sharapova's mother from joining them for two years.<ref name="ITH_2007_08_13"/> Arriving in Florida with savings of US$700,<ref name="Article" /> Sharapova's father took various low-paying jobs to fund her lessons until she was old enough to be admitted to the academy. Initially, she trained with Rick Macci. In 1995, however, she was signed by ], which agreed to pay the annual tuition fee of $35,000 for Sharapova to stay at the academy, allowing her to finally enroll at the age of 9.<ref name="times"/>
===2001-2003===


==Tennis career==
Sharapova turned professional in 2001, although she played a total of just two ] tournaments in 2001 and 2002 plus six challenger events.
===Junior and early career===
Sharapova first hit tennis fame in November 2000, when she won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at the age of just 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eddieherr.com/PastChampions.htm|publisher=Eddie Herr Official Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725075033/http://www.eddieherr.com/PastChampions.htm|archive-date=25 July 2012|title=Eddie Herr Past Champions|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> She was then given a special distinction, the Rising Star Award, awarded to players of exceptional promise.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317171129/http://www.eddieherr.com/2009/PlayerPacket09.pdf|archive-date=17 March 2012|url=http://www.eddieherr.com/2009/PlayerPacket09.pdf|publisher=Eddie Herr Official Website|title=Eddie Herr International Special Awards|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> Sharapova made her professional debut in 2001 on her 14th birthday on 19 April, and played her first WTA tournament at the ] in 2002, winning a match before losing to ]. Due to restrictions on how many professional events she could play, Sharapova went to hone her game in junior tournaments, where she reached the finals of the girls' singles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2002. She was the youngest girl ever to reach the final of the Australian Open junior championship at 14 years and 9 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/5567102/Wimbledon-2009-Maria-Sharapova-20-facts-you-didnt-know.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/5567102/Wimbledon-2009-Maria-Sharapova-20-facts-you-didnt-know.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wimbledon 2009: Maria Sharapova – 20 facts you didn't know|author=Nick Collins|work=]|date=24 June 2009|access-date=19 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Sharapova reached No. 6 in the ] junior world singles ranking on 21 October 2002. In all, she won three junior singles tournaments and was runner-up at five, including two junior Grand Slam events. Her win–loss record in junior competition was 47–9.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616051543/http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100013223 |date=16 June 2013 }}, ITF Juniors</ref> Her best results in the Junior Grand Slam tournaments were the finals of the ], finals of the ], third round of the ], and second round of the ].
She started playing tour events full-time in 2003. She won three qualifying matches at both the ] and the ] to reach the main draw, although she lost in the first round in both events. She received a wild card into the main draw at ], losing in the fourth round to compatriot ] 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 after defeating the 21st seed and the 11th seed in the second and third rounds, respectively. Sharapova then lost in the second round of the ] to ]. In October, Sharapova won her first title at the Tier III tournament in ] and then won her second Tier III tournament four weeks later in ]. She finished the year at World No. 32 and was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year.


===2003: First tournament titles===
===2004===
From 2003, Sharapova played a full season and made a rapid climb into the top 50 by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_2003.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928193303/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/Singles_Numeric_2003.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2017 |author=Liz Schroeder |publisher=WTA |title=WTA Tour Singles Ranking 2003 |date=10 November 2003 |access-date=12 June 2010 }}</ref> She made her debuts at both the ] and the ], but failed to win a match in either. Then, as a ] at ], she defeated 11th seed ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/wimbledon_2003/3028488.stm|title=Sharapova dismisses Dokic|publisher=BBC|date=28 June 2003|access-date=12 May 2013}}</ref> her first win over a top-20 player, to reach the fourth round, where she lost in three sets to ].
By the end of September, Sharapova had already captured her first WTA title at a smaller event, the ], before winning her second in her final tournament of the season, the ] in Quebec City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2003-11-02-quebec_x.htm|title=Sharapova handed Bell Challenge title|work=] Co.|date=2 November 2003|access-date=12 May 2013}}</ref> To cap off her first full season as a professional, she was awarded the ] honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/scontent/article/3010014/title/wta-awards |title=WTA Awards |access-date=18 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517115202/http://www.wtatennis.com/scontent/article/3010014/title/wta-awards |archive-date=17 May 2013 }}</ref>


===2004: Wimbledon glory and rise to fame===
Sharapova started the year by reaching the third round of the ], where she lost to seventh-seeded ] 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The week after the Australian Open, Sharapova lost in the second round of the ] ] in ] to ]. She then returned to the United States for three ] tournaments, reaching the semifinals in ], the fourth round at the Tier I ] in ], and the fourth round of the Tier I ] in ].
{{main|2004 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
Sharapova was defeated in the third round of the ] by sixth seed ].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/tennis/specials/australian_open/2004/01/24/bc.sport.tennis.open.myskina/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616031055/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/tennis/specials/australian_open/2004/01/24/bc.sport.tennis.open.myskina/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2013|access-date=29 May 2013|date=24 January 2004|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Myskina downs Sharapova in Russian clash}}</ref> She later reached the semifinals at the ], where she lost to eventual champion ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2004-02-20-roundup_x.htm|title=Federer upset in Rotterdam; Roddick falls at Kroger|date=20 February 2004|work=]|access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref>


During the spring ] season leading up to the ], Sharapova lost in the third round at both ] and ], which were both Tier I events. At the French Open, Sharapova reached the quarterfinals of a ] singles tournament for the first time in her career, losing to ] 6-1, 6-3. During the spring clay-court season, Sharapova entered the top 20 on the WTA world rankings as a result of reaching the third round of the ] and the ], both of which were Tier I events. At the latter event, she defeated a player ranked in the top 10 for the first time with a straight-sets win over world No. 10 and ] finalist ]. Later that clay-court season, she went on to make the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the ], losing there to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/01/1086058856148.html|title=Suarez strikes another blow for Argentina|work=The Age|date=2 June 2004|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>


]
The tour then switched to ]s in the lead up to ]. In ], Sharapova defeated ] to win the title.
Sharapova won the third title of her career at the ] warm-up ], defeating ] in the final. Seeded 13th and aged 17 at Wimbledon, she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating ]. There, she defeated fifth seed and former champion ]. In the final, Sharapova upset top seed and defending champion ] to win her first Grand Slam singles title, and become the third-youngest woman to win the Wimbledon title, behind only ] and ]. Sharapova also became the second Russian woman (after ] had won the year's previous major at ]) to win a Grand Slam singles title. The victory was hailed by the media as "the most stunning upset in memory",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25495-2004Jul3.html|title=Sharapova Wins Wimbledon After Improbable Journey|newspaper=]|author=Liz Clarke|date=7 April 2004|access-date=20 June 2010}}</ref> with other writers commenting on her arrival as a serious challenger to the ] dominance at Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-11722204-birth-of-a-superstar.do|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912142226/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-11722204-birth-of-a-superstar.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|title=Birth of a superstar|publisher=This Is London|author=Adrian Warner|date=7 February 2004|access-date=20 June 2010}}</ref> She entered the top 10 in the rankings for the first time as a result of the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=1834581|title=Sharapova vaults into top 10|publisher=]|date=6 July 2004|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>


Following her Wimbledon win, attention and interest in Sharapova in the media greatly increased, a rise in popularity dubbed "Maria Mania."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/08/27/commentary/column_sportsbiz/sportsbiz/index.htm|title=Maria Mania: no stopping her now|work=CNN|author=Chris Isidore|date=30 August 2004|access-date=20 June 2010}}</ref> She won three of six matches in her preparations for the ]. At the US Open itself, she reached the third round, before being eliminated by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/3628366.stm|title=Pierce shocks Sharapova|publisher=BBC|date=4 September 2004|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> In order to regain confidence, Sharapova played and won consecutive titles in Asia in the fall, the ] and the ].
The 17-year-old Sharapova went into Wimbledon as the thirteenth seed. She reached her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she defeated ] 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, and then upset fifth-seeded and former World No. 1 ] in the semifinals 2-6, 7-6, 6-1. She then faced two-time defending champion ] in the final, with Williams the heavy favorite. Sharapova, however, caused one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history by beating Williams 6-1, 6-4, to become the third-youngest Wimbledon women's champion (after ] and ]) and second-youngest in the ]. She was the first Russian to win the tournament and was, at the time, the lowest seed to win the women's event. (] was seeded lower when she won the tournament subsequently in 2005 and 2007.)


In October, Sharapova defeated Venus Williams en route to making the final of a Tier I event for the first time at the ], losing in the final to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/25/1098556329960.html?from=storylhs|title=Molik stuns Sharapova in Zurich final|work=The Age|date=25 October 2004|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> She then made her debut at the year-ending ]. There, she won two of her three round-robin matches (including a win over US Open champion ]) in order to advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Myskina. In the final, she defeated an injured Serena Williams, after trailing 4–0 in the final set.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4015111.stm|title=Sharapova wins season's finale|publisher=BBC|date=16 November 2004|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
During the North American summer hard court season leading up to the ], Sharapova played three tournaments. She lost to Myskina in the quarterfinals of the Tier I tournament in ]. She lost to ] in the third round of the Tier I tournament in ]. And she lost in the second round of the tournament in ].


===2005: World No. 1===
At the U.S. Open, Sharapova lost to French player and two-time Grand Slam champion ] in the third round 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. During the tournament, Sharapova and several other Russian women tennis players wore a black ribbon in observance of the tragedy after the ], which took place only a few days before.<ref></ref>
{{main|2005 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
Sharapova started the year at the ], where she defeated fifth seed ] to reach the second Grand Slam semifinal of her career. Sharapova held three match points in the third set of her semifinal match, before losing to eventual champion Serena Williams. In February, Sharapova won back-to-back tournaments, the ] and the ], allowing her to reach number 3 in the world rankings for the first time.


In the semifinals of the Tier I ], Sharapova was defeated by ], the first time she had failed to win a game in a match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4363185.stm|title=Sharapova humiliated by Davenport|publisher=BBC|date=18 March 2005|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> She defeated former world No. 1 players ] and Venus Williams to reach the final at the Tier I ], where she lost to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/01/sports/tennis/01tennis.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fS%2fSharapova%2c%20Maria&_r=0|title=Sharapova Rights Her Game vs. Venus Williams|work=]|author=Sandra Harwitt|date=1 April 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21225-2005Apr2.html|title=Clijsters's Dream Continues|newspaper=]|author=Amy Shipley|date=3 April 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova then played three tournaments in Asia. She lost to ] in the semifinals of the ] in ]. During the next two weeks, Sharapova won the Tier IV tournament in ] and successfully defended her ] title.


Sharapova made the semifinals of a clay-court tournament for the first time at the ], where she lost to ]. Sharapova would have become world No. 1 for the first time had she won the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4544729.stm|title=Sharapova edges nearer to summit|publisher=BBC|date=13 May 2005|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> Sharapova then reached the quarterfinals of the ] for the second consecutive year, before losing to eventual champion Henin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/jun/01/tennis.frenchopen2005|title=Henin reduces Sharapova to dust|work=]|author=Stephen Bierley|date=1 June 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> On grass, Sharapova won her third title of the year when she successfully defended her title at the ], defeating ] in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4085880.stm|title=Sharapova keeps Birmingham title|publisher=BBC|date=12 June 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> As the defending champion at ], Sharapova reached the semifinals without dropping a set and losing a service game just once, extending her winning streak on grass to 24 matches. However, she was then beaten by eventual champion ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4639341.stm|title=Williams ends Sharapova's defence|publisher=BBC|date=30 June 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
Before returning to the United States, Sharapova reached her first Tier I final in ], losing to ]. At the Tier II tournament in ], Sharapova reached the semifinals before defaulting her match to ]. Sharapova then ended the year by winning the ]. She defeated an injured Serena Williams in the final after being down 4-0 in the final set. After losing to Sharapova in a semifinal of this event, Myskina said: "He was just yelling and screaming instructions to her and I thought he just might jump right on the court at one point in the match."


Sharapova had far fewer points to defend, and so she became the first Asian and Russian woman to hold the world No. 1 ranking on 22 August 2005.<ref name="wtacareer">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/qa-sharapovas-first-business-aims-for-the-sweet-spot/479274.html|title=Q&A: Sharapova's First Business Aims for the Sweet Spot|work=]|date=26 April 2013|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://clutchpoints.com/maria-sharapovas-net-worth-in-2022 | title=Maria Sharapova's Net Worth in 2022 | date=July 2022 | accessdate=23 February 2024}}</ref> Her reign lasted only one week, however, as Davenport reclaimed the top ranking after winning the ] tournament.<ref name="wtacareer"/>
Sharapova finished 2004 ranked World No. 4 and was the second-ranked Russian (behind Myskina). She won five titles during the year, trailing only Davenport's seven and equaling ] total. Sharapova also topped the prize winnings list for the year.


As the top seed at the ], Sharapova lost in the semifinals to ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4228310.stm|title=Clijsters battles past Sharapova|publisher=BBC|date=9 September 2005|access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> meaning she had lost to the eventual champion in every Grand Slam of the season. However, she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the world No. 1 ranking on 12 September 2005. She retained it for six weeks, but after playing few tournaments while injured, she again relinquished the ranking to Davenport.<ref name="wtacareer"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/17404-davenport-regains-no-1-ranking|title=Davenport regains No. 1 ranking|publisher=NDTV|date=27 August 2005|access-date=8 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610183939/http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/17404-davenport-regains-no-1-ranking|archive-date=10 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2005===
]
Sharapova started the year by reaching the semifinals of the ], where she lost to eventual champion ] 2-6, 7-5, 8-6, despite holding three match points.


===2006: US Open champion===
In February, Sharapova won her first ] event in ]. Three weeks later, she won the tournament in ]. To complete the spring ] season, Sharapova reached the semifinals of the Tier I ] in ] and the final of the Tier I ] in ].
{{main|2006 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
]]]
Sharapova started 2006 by losing in the semifinals of the ] in three sets to Henin,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/usopen06/news/story?id=2579411|title=Sharapova, Henin-Hardenne advance to Open final|publisher=]|date=8 September 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> also losing a rematch several weeks later at the ], having defeated former world No. 1 ] and world No. 3 ] in earlier rounds of the tournament. Sharapova claimed her first title in nine months at the Tier I tournament in Indian Wells, defeating Hingis in the semifinals and ] in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4818828.stm|title=Sharapova into all-Russian final|publisher=BBC|date=18 March 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/03/19/sharapova-wins-pacific-life-federer-in-final/|title=Sharapova wins Pacific Life|work=]|date=19 March 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> She reached the final in ] before losing to Kuznetsova.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/apr/02/tennis.richardevans|title=Kuznetsova quiets Sharapova scream on the way to title|work=The Guardian|date=2 April 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>


Sharapova returned for the ]. There, after saving match points in defeating ] in the first round, she was eliminated by ] in the fourth round.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/sports/tennis/04french-wire.html?_r=0|title= Sharapova Falls at French Open |work=]|date=4 June 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> On grass, Sharapova was unsuccessful in her attempt to win in Birmingham for the third consecutive year, losing in the semifinals to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/5091134.stm|title= Sharapova suffers surprise defeat |publisher=BBC|date=17 June 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> Despite that, she was among the title favorites at ], where the eventual champion Mauresmo ended up beating her in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200607/s1680842.htm|title=Mauresmo survives lapse to reach Wimbledon final|publisher=]|date=7 July 2006|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova participated in two of the ] tune-ups for the ]. She lost in the quarterfinals of the ] in ] to ] and the semifinals of the ] in ] to ]. At the French Open, Sharapova lost in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, falling to Henin, the eventual champion.


Sharapova claimed her second title of the year at the Tier I ], defeating Clijsters for the first time in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2006-08-06-acura-classic_x.htm|title=Sharapova outlasts Clijsters in Acura final|date=6 August 2006|work=]|access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> As the third seed at the ], Sharapova defeated top seed Mauresmo for the first time in the semifinals,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/open/2006-09-08-day-12_x.htm?POESPOISVA|title=Sharapova stops No. 1 Mauresmo, will meet Henin-Hardenne in U.S. Open final|date=8 September 2006|work=]|access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> and then followed up by beating second seed Justine Henin to win her second Grand Slam singles title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/usopen06/news/story?id=2581102|title=Sharapova drops Henin-Hardenne to win U.S. Open title|date=12 September 2006|work=ESPN|access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>
On ], Sharapova successfully defended her ] title, defeating ] in the final to extend her winning streak on grass to 19 matches. She then was unsuccessful in defending her Wimbledon title. She reached the semifinals without losing a set, where she lost to ], the eventual champion.


That autumn, Sharapova won titles in back-to-back weeks at the ] and the ]. By winning all three of her round-robin matches at the ], she extended her win streak to 19 matches, before it was snapped in the semifinals by eventual champion Henin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2006-11-26/sports/0611250235_1_maria-sharapova-justine-henin-hardenne-wta-championships|title=Henin-Hardenne came up aces|publisher=]|date=26 November 2006|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-date=6 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204706/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2006-11-26/sports/0611250235_1_maria-sharapova-justine-henin-hardenne-wta-championships|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sharapova would have finished the season as world No. 1 had she won the event. As it was, she finished ranked world No. 2, her best year-end finish yet.
] injured her back in the Wimbledon final, preventing her from defending the ranking points she obtained during the ] of 2004. Sharapova had fewer points to defend and therefore rose to the World No. 1 ranking on ], ]. She was the first Russian woman to hold the position. Her reign lasted only one week, however, as Davenport re-ascended to the top ranking after winning the title in ].


===2007: Return to No. 1, shoulder injury and fall from the Top 5===
At the ], Sharapova lost in the semifinals to eventual champion ]. Sharapova lost to the eventual champion in all four ] events of 2005. Nevertheless, the points she accumulated at the U.S. Open meant that she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the World No. 1 ranking on ], ]. She kept that ranking for six weeks before relinquishing it again to Davenport following the ].
Sharapova was the top seed at the ] due to top-ranked Justine Henin's withdrawal. After being two points away from defeat in the first round against ], she went on to reach the final of the tournament for the first time, but was routed there by Serena Williams who was ranked world No. 81 at the time. After reaching the final, Sharapova recaptured the world No. 1 ranking.<ref name="wtacareer"/> She held it for seven weeks, surrendering it back to Henin after failing to defend her title at the ], instead losing in the fourth round to ] after struggling with a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6326809.stm|title=Leg injury forces Sharapova out|publisher=BBC|date=3 February 2007|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> The following fortnight, she defeated Venus Williams in the third round of the ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-miami-idUSL2308180420070325|title=Sharapova sets up Venus showdown in rainy Miami|work=Reuters|date=27 March 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> before being beaten again by Serena Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/serena-williams-defeats-maria-sharapova-today-key-270447.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729030341/http://voices.yahoo.com/serena-williams-defeats-maria-sharapova-today-key-270447.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2014|title=Serena Williams Defeats Maria Sharapova Today in Key Biscayne|publisher=]|author=Verdell A. Wright|date=27 March 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>


A shoulder injury forced Sharapova to miss most of the clay-court season for the second consecutive year, resulting in her only tune-up for the ] being the ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6689561.stm|title=Sharapova battles to Istanbul win|publisher=BBC|date=24 May 2007|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> where she lost in the semifinals to ]. She reached the semifinals of the French Open for the first time in her career, before losing to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jun/07/tennis.frenchopen2007|title=Ivanovic stuns Sharapova to set up Henin showdown|work=]|date=7 June 2007|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> On grass, Sharapova was runner-up to ] at the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6762093.stm|title=Jankovic seals win over Sharapova|publisher=BBC|date=17 June 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> Following that, she experienced her earliest Wimbledon loss since 2003 by losing in the fourth round to eventual champion Venus Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jul/04/tennis.wimbledon1|title=Henin sends Serena crashing out|work=The Guardian|date=4 July 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova failed to defend her title at the season-ending ], losing in the semifinals to eventual champion ].


Sharapova clinched the ] by defending her title at the ], her only championship of the year, and reaching the semifinals in Los Angeles.<ref name="wtacareer"/> In her ] title defense, Sharapova was upset in her third-round match by 30th seed ],<ref name="radwanska">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6974187.stm|title=Sharapova loses to teen Radwanska|publisher=BBC|date=1 September 2007|access-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> making it her earliest exit at a Grand Slam singles tournament since the ], where she lost in the same round.<ref name="wtacareer"/>
Sharapova finished the year ranked World No. 4 again and as the top-ranked Russian for the first time. She won three titles during the year and was the only player in 2005 to reach three Grand Slam semifinals.


Following the US Open loss, Sharapova did not play again until the ] in October, where she lost her opening match to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7038379.stm|title=Sharapova crashes out in Moscow|publisher=BBC|date=10 October 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> Shortly after this, she fell out of the top 5 in the world rankings for the first time since 2004. She qualified for the eight-woman year-end ] because of a withdrawal by Venus Williams before the start of the tournament.<ref name="wtacareer"/> Despite having not previously won a match in two months, Sharapova topped her round-robin group at the tournament, after winning all three of her matches, defeating ], Ana Ivanovic, and ]. She then defeated ] in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/nov/11/tennis.news|title=Sharapova straight in|author=Richard Evans |website=]|date=11 November 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> In the final, she lost to world No. 1 Henin in a match that lasted 3 hours and 24 minutes. Sharapova reached the top 5 again to end the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3149968|title=Strong finish for Sharapova; stronger return by Davenport|publisher=]|author=Joel Drucker|date=13 December 2007|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref>
===2006===


===2008: Australian Open champion, No. 1 and second shoulder injury===
] 2006]]
{{main|2008 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
At the ], Sharapova lost in the semifinals to ] 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, the only match of the year that Sharapova lost after winning the first set.
Sharapova was seeded fifth at the ], but was not considered a favorite. Nevertheless, she defeated former world No. 1 ] in the second round, and then world No. 1 Henin in the quarterfinals,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7201953.stm|title=Brilliant Sharapova hammers Henin|publisher=BBC|date=22 January 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> ending the latter's 32-match winning streak.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/tennis/24tennis.html?fta=y|title=Sharapova Reaches the Final Again and Hopes for a Better Outcome|work=The New York Times |date=24 January 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> She proceeded to the finals by defeating ] in the semifinals, and defeated ] in the final to win her third Grand Slam title, having not dropped a set all tournament.


After the Australian Open, Sharapova extended her winning streak to 18 matches. This run encompassed two wins including at the Tier I ]. Her winning streak was ended in the semifinals of the ] by Kuznetsova. In April, Sharapova won the ], having survived her longest-ever match, at 3 hours and 26 minutes long, in the third round against ].<ref name="epicbattle">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7341970.stm|title=Sharapova wins epic battle|publisher=BBC|date=11 April 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> The following week, at the ], she lost in the quarterfinals to ], her fourth consecutive loss to the American.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2004359654_digs19.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908041540/http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2004359654_digs19.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2014|title=Tennis: Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova 4th time in a row|work=]|date=19 April 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova claimed her first title of 2006 and eleventh of her career at the ] ] in ]. She defeated fourth-seeded ] in the final 6-1, 6-2.


In May, Sharapova regained the world No. 1 ranking because of Henin's sudden retirement from professional tennis and request to the ] that her own ranking be removed immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=tennis&id=3397722|title=Sharapova to take over top ranking from retired Henin|publisher=]|date=15 May 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> As the top-seeded player at the ], Sharapova was within two points<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/french08/news/story?id=3415126|title=Sharapova needs 8–6 win in third set to overcome Rodina|publisher=]|date=28 May 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> of being knocked out by ] in the first round, before eventually winning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/8184486/Sharapova-a-long-way-from-Grand-Slam-form|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215040319/http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/8184486/Sharapova-a-long-way-from-Grand-Slam-form|archive-date=15 February 2009|title=Sharapova a long way from Grand Slam form|publisher=]|date=28 May 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> As a result of losing to eventual finalist Dinara Safina in the fourth round (after serving for the match),<ref>{{cite news|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/sports/tennis/03tennis.html|title=Sharapova Roars, but She Is Silenced by Safina Once Again|work=]|date=3 June 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> she relinquished her No. 1 ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3424588|title=Sharapova to drop from top spot after French Open|publisher=]|date=3 June 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> Her dip in form continued at ], where she lost in the second round to world No. 154 ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agence France-Presse |author-link=Agence France-Presse |date=July 5, 2008 |title=Humiliation will fuel my fire: Sharapova {{!}} Tennis News |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/humiliation-will-fuel-my-fire-sharapova-1604952 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> This was her earliest loss at Wimbledon, and at any Grand Slam in almost five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon08/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=3462202|title=Sharapova loss just the start of a chaotic day at Wimbledon|publisher=]|date=27 June 2008|access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref>
Sharapova then lost in the final of the Tier I ] to ].


Sharapova withdrew from the ] tournament in August following a shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/sharapova-withdraws-from-rogers-cup-1.710767|title=Sharapova withdraws from Rogers Cup|publisher=]|date=31 July 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> An ] scan revealed that she had been suffering from a ] since April, forcing her out of all tournaments for the rest of the season, including the ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/tennis/7536416.stm|title=Sharapova to miss US Open & Games|publisher=BBC|date=1 August 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> In spite of that, she still finished the year ranked world No. 9. In October, after a failed attempt to rehabilitate the shoulder, Sharapova had surgery to repair the tear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/brennan/2011-06-30-Brennan-maria-sharapova-wimbledon-final_n.htm|title=Sharapova back at last where she belongs|work=]|author=Christine Brennan|date=30 June 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova participated at the ] without having played any of the ] tune-ups because of injury. After saving three match points in the first round against ], Sharapova was eliminated in the fourth round by ] 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, after Sharapova led 5-1 in the third set. Sharapova lost 18 of the match's last 21 points.


===2009–2010: Shoulder surgery, rehabilitation, comeback and struggles with form===
Sharapova then started the ] season but failed to add a third successive ] title to her collection, losing in the semifinals to American ]. At ], Sharapova was defeated in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, losing to eventual winner and World No. 1 ] 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
{{main|2009 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
Sharapova did not attempt to defend her ] title, as she continued to recover from surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/tennis/sharapova-out/2009/01/11/1231608525444.html|title=Sharapova out after shoulder fails to recover|work=The Age|author=Linda Pearce|date=12 January 2009|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> She returned to the sport in March, in the doubles tournament at the ], but she and partner ] lost in the first round. After this, Sharapova withdrew from further singles tournaments, resulting in her standing in the world rankings being severely affected. She dropped out of the top 100 for the first time in six years in May, the nadir being world No. 126.<ref name="wtatennis" />


], her best Grand Slam performance of 2009.]]
Sharapova claimed her second title of 2006 at the Tier I ] in ], defeating top-seeded ] 7-5, 7-5. This was Sharapova's first victory over Clijsters in five meetings. She then played in ], losing to Dementieva in the semifinals. This was Sharapova's only summer hardcourt loss of the year.
Playing her first singles tournament in nearly ten months, Sharapova made the quarterfinals of the clay-court ] in May, losing to finalist ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4192265|title=Bondarenko wins in straight sets|publisher=]|date=21 May 2009|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> The following week, in her first Grand Slam appearance since her surgery, she reached the quarterfinals of the ], before her run was ended by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/5430320/French-Open-2009-Maria-Sharapova-and-the-curse-of-the-cover-stars.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/5430320/French-Open-2009-Maria-Sharapova-and-the-curse-of-the-cover-stars.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=French Open 2009: Maria Sharapova and the curse of the cover stars |work=]|author=Mark Hodgkinson|date=2 June 2009|access-date=9 June 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


During the summer grass-court season, Sharapova played in ], losing in the semifinals to Li Na.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4256242|title=Sharapova broken six times in loss|date=13 June 2009|publisher=]|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> Sharapova then played at ] as the 24th seed. She was upset in the second round by ] in three sets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/5624035/Wimbledon-2009-Maria-Sharapova-suffers-shock-defeat-by-Gisela-Dulko.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/5624035/Wimbledon-2009-Maria-Sharapova-suffers-shock-defeat-by-Gisela-Dulko.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wimbledon 2009: Maria Sharapova suffers shock defeat by Gisela Dulko|last=Hodgkinson|first=Mark|date=24 June 2009|work=]|access-date=18 May 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Sharapova was the third-seed at the ]. She defeated ] 7-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals before defeating Mauresmo in a semifinal 6-0, 4-6, 6-0. Sharapova then prevailed over second-ranked Henin in the final 6-4, 6-4 to win her second ] singles title, having dropped just one set en route and joining the list of eight players who had beaten the top two players in the world to win a Grand Slam singles title.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


Sharapova enjoyed considerable success in the summer months, reaching the quarterfinals at the ], the semifinals at the ], and finishing runner-up at the ] to ]. At the ], Sharapova was seeded 29th. She found her way into the third round, defeating ] and ], all in straight sets. She was stunned in the third round by American teenager ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/usopen09/news/story?id=4448907|title=Oudin's run continues; Safina exits early|publisher=]|date=6 September 2009|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> It was the second time in Sharapova's career that she lost to a teenager at a ], having lost to ] during the same event in 2007. The loss made Sharapova's ranking go down to No. 32.<ref name="wtatennis" />
Sharapova then won two tournaments in consecutive weeks. At the Tier I ], Sharapova defeated ] in the final. At the ], Sharapova beat fellow Russian and defending champion ] to take her fifth title of 2006 and the 15th title of her career.


The final stretch of the season brought Sharapova her first title of the year in ], after opponent ] retired after being down 2–5 to Sharapova in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/10/03/tennis.sharapova.jankovic.venus/|title= Sharapova lands Tokyo title as Jankovic quits |work=CNN|date=3 October 2009|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> By virtue of that result, she was the recipient of a bye at the ], but failed to capitalize on it, losing to ] in the third round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/oct/07/maria-sharapova-china-open-shuai|title=Tired Maria Sharapova knocked out of China Open by Peng Shuai|work=The Guardian|date=7 October 2009|access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> She ultimately finished the season at world No. 14, having improved from No. 126 when she started her comeback from injury.<ref name="wtatennis" />
Until her loss in the semifinals of the ] to Henin, Sharapova had won 19 consecutive matches. She finished the year at World No. 2 and, for the second year, as the top Russian player. During the year, she compiled a 59-9 record and won five titles (second only to Henin's six), including three Tier I titles, more than any other player.


{{main|2010 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
===2007===
After playing two exhibition tournaments in Asia, Sharapova officially began her season at the ], where she was upset in her first-round match against ]. The loss meant that for the first time since 2003, Sharapova had lost her opening match at a Grand Slam event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/7016124/Australian-Open-2010-Maria-Sharapova-dumped-out-by-Maria-Kirilenko.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/7016124/Australian-Open-2010-Maria-Sharapova-dumped-out-by-Maria-Kirilenko.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author=Mark Hodgkinson|work=]|title=Australian Open 2010: Maria Sharapova dumped out by Maria Kirilenko|date=18 January 2010|access-date=12 June 2010|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She then rebounded by winning a smaller American event, the ], her 21st career WTA title and first of the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8526723.stm|title=Maria Sharapova beats Sofia Arvidsson in Memphis final|date=21 January 2010|work=BBC Sport |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref>
]
Sharapova reached the final of the ], an exhibition tournament in ], where she was defeated by ] 6-3, 7-6(8).


At the ], Sharapova lost in the third round to ], aggravating a bruised bone on her right elbow in the process, which resulted in her eventual withdrawal from the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/tennis/03/18/tennis.sharapova.injury.elbow/index.html|work=CNN|title=Sharapova suffers fresh setback after elbow injury|date=18 March 2010|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usta.com/Global/Pro_Tennis/Pro_Tennis/Wire/2010/04/09/Serena_Williams_Sharapova_withdraw_from_Family_Circle_Cup.aspx |publisher=United States Tennis Association |title=Serena Williams, Sharapova withdraw from Family Circle Cup |date=9 April 2010 |access-date=12 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413075534/http://www.usta.com/Global/Pro_Tennis/Pro_Tennis/Wire/2010/04/09/Serena_Williams_Sharapova_withdraw_from_Family_Circle_Cup.aspx |archive-date=13 April 2010 }}</ref>
Sharapova was the top seed at the ] because of World No. 1 ] withdrawal. Sharapova defeated the 62nd-ranked ] in the first round 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 on her fourth match point in air temperatures that exceeded 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F) and on-court temperatures that exceeded 50&nbsp;°C (122&nbsp;°F). In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated fourth-seeded Clijsters to reach her first Australian Open final and gain the opportunity to win the only ] singles title that a Russian woman had not yet won. However, ], ranked World No. 81, overpowered Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Reaching the final allowed Sharapova to recapture the World No. 1 ranking.


Returning at the ], Sharapova lost in the first round to ]. She continued her French Open preparation at the ] as a wildcard, advancing to the final, where she beat ]. This was her first title on red clay and 22nd overall title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/tennis/2010/05/24/257792/Sharapova-wins.htm|work=The China Post|location=Taiwan (ROC)|title=Sharapova wins second 2010 title at Strasbourg|date=24 May 2010|access-date=12 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925202148/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/tennis/2010/05/24/257792/Sharapova-wins.htm|archive-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> At the ], Sharapova's brief clay season culminated with a third-round loss to four-time champion Justine Henin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/7785938/French-Open-2010-Justine-Henin-defeats-Maria-Sharapova.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/7785938/French-Open-2010-Justine-Henin-defeats-Maria-Sharapova.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=French Open 2010: Justine Henin defeats Maria Sharapova|publisher=]|date=30 May 2010|access-date=14 June 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Partly due to hamstring and shoulder injuries that reduced the effectiveness of her serve, Sharapova did not win any of her next three tournaments. At the ] ] in ], Sharapova retired from her semifinal match with ]. At the Tier I ] in ], Sharapova lost to ] in the fourth round 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 after Sharapova lead 5-4 in the second set. This loss resulted in her losing the World No. 1 ranking. In the fourth round of the Tier I ] in ], Sharapova lost to Serena Williams for the second consecutive time 6-1, 6-1. In the third round of that tournament, Sharapova had beaten ] 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.


Sharapova began her preparations for Wimbledon at the ]. She advanced to the final for the fourth time, where she lost to ]. As the 16th seed at ], Sharapova lost in the fourth round to world No. 1 and eventual champion Serena Williams, despite having three set points in the opening set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/tennis/tournaments/story/0,25174,18898_6236218,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701033332/http://www.skysports.com/tennis/tournaments/story/0%2C25174%2C18898_6236218%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2010 |title=Sharapova tests Serena |publisher=Sky Sports |date=29 June 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010 }}</ref> The match was seen as another encouraging performance for Sharapova, with some stating their belief that she was approaching the form that would see her contending for Grand Slams once more,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/serena-forced-into-top-gear-to-tame-sharapova-2013078.html|title=Serena forced into top gear to tame Sharapova|author=Chris McGrath|work=The Independent |location=UK|date=29 June 2010|access-date=3 July 2010 }}</ref> and Sharapova herself stating that she felt that she was "in a much better spot than I was last year."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/serena-williams-avoids-flashback-beats-sharapova/|title=Serena Williams Avoids Flashback, Beats Sharapova|author=John Martin|work=The New York Times|date=28 June 2010|access-date=3 July 2010}}</ref>
Injuries forced Sharapova to miss most the ] season for the second consecutive year. Her only tune-up for the ] was the ], where she lost to Frenchwoman ] in the semifinals 6-2, 6-4. She then reached the semifinals of the French Open for the first time in her career (saving a match point against ] in the fourth round), but fell to Ivanović 6-2, 6-1.


During the ], Sharapova made two straight finals, losing to ] at the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2010-08-01-bank-of-the-west-classic_N.htm|title=Azarenka rolls past Sharapova to win Bank of the West title|work=]|date=8 February 2010|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> and to ] at the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cincytennis.com/clijsters_wins/|title=Clijsters Storms Back to Win 2010 Women's Open|publisher=WTA|access-date=14 June 2013|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224182310/http://www.cincytennis.com/clijsters_wins/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the latter match, Sharapova held three match points while leading 5–3 on Clijsters's serve late in the second set, but could not convert them. At the ], Sharapova was the 14th seed. She made it to the fourth round, where she played top seed and 2009 finalist ] and lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/usopen10/news/story?id=5539423|title=Maria Sharapova loses in 4th round|publisher=]|date=7 September 2010|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref>
On ] at the ] in ], Sharapova lost in the final to second seeded ] 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. At ], Sharapova lost to Venus Williams in the fourth round 6-1, 6-3.


Sharapova's last two tournaments of the season ended in disappointment. She played in the ] in Tokyo, where she was upset in the first round by 39-year-old ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2010-09-27-pan-pacific-open_N.htm|title=Japan's Date Krumm ousts Sharapova at Pan Pacific Open|work=USA Today|date=29 September 2010|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> Her last tournament of the year was the ], where she lost in the second round to fellow Russian ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/oct/07/maria-sharapova-china-open-shuai|title=Tired Maria Sharapova knocked out of China Open by Peng Shuai|work=]|date=7 October 2010|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> She ended the year at number 18 in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/photos/article/2213795/title/2010-year-end-top-20|title=2010: Year-End Top 20|publisher=WTA|date=10 November 2010|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova's first summer hardcourt tournament was the Tier I ] in ], where she was the defending champion. She progressed to the final relatively easily, showing few of the serving problems that had dogged her all year. In the final, she defeated eleventh-seeded Schnyder 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, claiming her first title of the year, fifth Tier I title of her career, and the 16th singles title of her career.


===2011: Return to the top 10===
At the ] in ], a shin injury caused Sharapova to withdraw from her semifinal match with fellow Russian ] shortly before the match started. Nevertheless, she clinched the ] for the first time.
It was announced that Sharapova would bring in ] as a coach for the 2011 season, joining ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2010/12/sharapova-hires-hogstedt-to-co-coach-with-joyce/26210/|title=Sharapova hires Hogstedt to co-coach with Joyce|author=Matthew Cronin|publisher=TENNIS.com|date=4 December 2010|access-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref> On 5 December, Sharapova won an exhibition match against world No. 2 ] in Monterrey, Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://origin-www.wtatennis.com/page/OffCourtNews/Read/0,,12781~2239156,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615221220/http://origin-www.wtatennis.com/page/OffCourtNews/Read/0,,12781~2239156,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2013 |title=Maria & Vera In Monterrey |publisher=WTA |date=7 December 2010 |access-date=4 May 2013 }}</ref> In Sharapova's first official Australian Open warm-up tournament at the ], she was top-seeded. She lost to the Hungarian veteran and eventual champion, ], in the quarterfinals. After that, Sharapova decided to split up with Joyce, ending a successful cooperation that brought her two Grand Slam victories and the world No. 1 ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.ria.ru/sports/20110116/162167367.html|title=Sharapova's long-time coach leaves job|publisher=RIA Novosti|date=16 January 2011|access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref>


Sharapova participated in the first Grand Slam of the season at the ], where she was the 14th seed, but lost to ] in the fourth round.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2011-01-24 |title=Australian Open 2011: Maria Sharapova is still a queen without a court |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/24/australian-open-2011-maria-sharapova |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411094452/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/24/australian-open-2011-maria-sharapova |archive-date=2023-04-11 |access-date=2024-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She also had to pull out of the Dubai Championships and the Qatar Open because of an ear infection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/espntennis|title=Work to do for Roddick and the Americans|publisher=]|author=Ravi Ubha|date=16 February 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> Sharapova returned to the tour in March by taking part in the ], where she was seeded 16th. She defeated former world No. 1, Dinara Safina, in the fourth round en route to the semifinal, where she lost to world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/wozniacki-wins-bnp-paribaas-open_n_838169.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323155204/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/wozniacki-wins-bnp-paribaas-open_n_838169.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 March 2011 |title=Wozniacki Wins BNP Paribas Open, Beats Marion Bartoli In Finals |work=] |author=Beth Harris |date=20 March 2011 |access-date=14 June 2013 }}</ref> At ], Sharapova defeated 26th seed ] in the quarterfinals, in a match lasting 3 hours and 28 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Maria Sharapova wins Key Biscayne marathon |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/3/30/20181950/maria-sharapova-wins-key-biscayne-marathon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609183034/https://www.deseret.com/2011/3/30/20181950/maria-sharapova-wins-key-biscayne-marathon/ |archive-date=2024-06-09 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Deseret News |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In the semifinals, Sharapova took her ] reprisal on ] by defeating her. In the final, she was defeated by ], despite a late comeback in the second set.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/aus12/story/_/id/7513049/2012-australian-open-victoria-azarenka-routs-maria-sharapova-win-title|title=Victoria Azarenka routs Sharapova|publisher=]|date=29 January 2011|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> With this result, Sharapova returned to the top 10 for the first time since February 2009.<ref name="wtatennis"/>
Seeded second at the ], Sharapova won her first two matches with the loss of only two games but then lost her third round match to 18-year-old Pole ] 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, partly due to poor serving and a host of unforced errors. It was Sharapova's earliest exit at a Grand Slam singles tournament since she lost in the same round at the ].


During the clay-court season, Sharapova participated in the ], where she lost to ] in the third round, and the ], where she was seeded seventh. She defeated top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals and sixth seed Samantha Stosur in the final to take home the title, marking her biggest clay-court victory to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2360583/title/sharapovas-greatest-clay-court-triumph|title=Sharapova's Greatest Clay Court Triumph|publisher=WTA|date=15 May 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> At the ], Sharapova was seeded seventh. She defeated French wildcard ] in the second round, despite trailing 3–6, 1–4, before winning the last 11 games of the match. In the quarterfinals, she defeated 15th seed Andrea Petkovic, marking her first Grand Slam semifinal since her comeback from the career-threatening shoulder injury. She then lost to sixth seed and eventual champion, ], in the semifinals, ending her clay season with a win–loss record of 12–2.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322014754/http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2011-06-02/201106021307029251097.html|archive-date=22 March 2012|url=http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2011-06-02/201106021307029251097.html|title=Li sweeps Sharapova aside for tilt at title|author=Louisa Baker|date=2 June 2011|access-date=4 June 2011}}</ref>
Sharapova did not play again until the Tier I ] in Moscow in October, where she lost to ] of Belarus in the second round, 7-6(9), 6-2 (after a first-round bye). The recurring shoulder problem then forced Sharapova to withdraw from events in ] and ], at both of which she was the defending champion.


At the ], Sharapova had not dropped a set entering the final, before losing to eighth seed ], in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/14002512|title=Wimbledon 2011: Petra Kvitova beats Maria Sharapova to title|publisher=BBC|author=Piers Newbery|date=2 July 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> This marked her first final in over three years at a Grand Slam event. Sharapova started her summer hard-court season at the ] in ], California. In a highly anticipated match, Sharapova lost to the eventual champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2405569/title/serena-shines-in-qfs-lisicki-awaits-in-sfs|title=Serena Shines In QFs, Lisicki Awaits In SFs|publisher=WTA|date=29 July 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> In her next event at the ] in Toronto, Sharapova lost to ] in the third round, marking her 100th career loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2417634/title/stosur-dismisses-li-tough-day-for-faves|title=Stosur Dismisses Li, Tough Day For Faves|publisher=WTA|date=11 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova qualified for the ] only because Venus Williams withdrew from the tournament. Playing only her second match in two months, Sharapova beat World No. 9 ] 6-4, 7-5 in her first round-robin match, before coming from a set down to defeat World No. 2 ] 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to ensure a place in the semifinals. In her final round robin match, Sharapova defeated Ivanović 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour. As the winner of the Red Group, Sharapova then played the runner-up of the Yellow Group, ], in the semifinals. Sharapova won that match 6-2, 6-2. In the final, Sharapova lost to World No. 1 Henin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in a match that lasted 3 hours and 24 minutes. This was the 12th longest tour match during the ].{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


], August 2011]]
Sharapova ended the year as World No. 5 on the official ] tour rankings, the fourth consecutive year that she finished in the top five. However, for the first time since 2004, she did not finish the year as the top ranked Russian. Kuznetsova, who finished World No. 2, held that honor. Sharapova also won just one title (at San Diego), the first time she had failed to win at least two titles since 2002 (when she played just three WTA matches).
Sharapova then contested the ]. As the fourth seed, she received a bye into the second round. On the way to her fourth final of the year, she beat ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2422838/title/bartoli-back-on-track-serena-edges-hradecka|title=Bartoli Back On Track, Serena Edges Hradecka
|publisher=WTA|date=16 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> 14th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2425089/title/hantuchova-gets-past-bartoli-zvonareva-next|title=Hantuchova Gets Past Bartoli, Zvonareva Next|publisher=WTA|date=18 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> tenth seed Samantha Stosur,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2426294/title/zvonareva-sharapova-to-clash-in-semifinals|title=Zvonareva & Sharapova to clash in semifinals|publisher=WTA|date=19 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> and 2nd seed Vera Zvonareva.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2427204/title/former-world-no1s-to-collide-in-cincinnati|title=Former world No. 1s to Collide in Cincinnati|publisher=WTA|date=20 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> In the final, she defeated fellow former world No. 1 ], in 2 hours and 49 minutes, making it the longest WTA tour final of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110821/SPT/308210027/Sharapova-wins-women-s-title?odyssey|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407230738/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110821/SPT/308210027/Sharapova-wins-women-s-title?odyssey|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2013|title=Sharapova wins women's title|publisher=Cincinnati.com|author=Shannon Russell|date=22 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> She subsequently moved up to world No. 4, her highest ranking since August 2008 and the highest since her comeback from her shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2428859/title/ranking-watch-maria-moves-up-to-no4|title=Ranking Watch: Maria Moves Up To No. 4|publisher=WTA|date=22 August 2011|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>


Sharapova entered the ], where she was seeded third. She beat ], and ], to reach the third round. She was then upset by ]. However, because of the fall of Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva in the rankings, Sharapova climbed to world No. 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Maria-Sharapova-Shocked-Out-of-US-Open,-More-From-.aspx|title=Maria Sharapova Shocked Out of US Open, More From New York|publisher=Tennisnow|date=2 September 2011|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> Sharapova's next tournament was the ] in Tokyo, Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/topics/AJ2011093012822 |title=Sharapova limps out of Pan Pacific Open |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company |author=Rob Smaal |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221231212/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/topics/AJ2011093012822 |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}</ref> As second seed, she received a bye into the second round, where she beat ]. She then beat 13th seed ], before retiring against Petra Kvitová in the quarterfinal, 3–4, after slipping on the baseline, suffering an ankle injury. This also forced her to withdraw from the ] the following week. Sharapova then flew to Istanbul to prepare for the ], her first time qualifying since 2007. During the WTA Tour Championships, Sharapova withdrew during the round-robin stage after defeats against Samantha Stosur and Li Na, as a result of the ankle injury she had suffered in Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-26 |title=Sharapova pulls out of WTA with ankle injury |url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/7151959/wta-championships-maria-sharapova-withdraws-ankle-injury |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204140900/https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/7151959/wta-championships-maria-sharapova-withdraws-ankle-injury |archive-date=2023-02-04 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Sharapova ended the year as No. 4 in the world, her first top-10 finish since 2008 and first top-5 finish since 2007.
===2008===


===2012: Career Grand Slam, back to No. 1 and Olympic silver===
After beating ] in an exhibition match in ], Sharapova reached the final of the ] exhibition tournament in ], where she lost to ] in the final 6-4, 6-3.
{{main|2012 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
Sharapova withdrew from the ] because of her ongoing ankle injury.<ref>{{cite web|last=Musall |first=Jeff |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=ycn-10746909 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111124801/http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=ycn-10746909 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2012 |title=Maria Sharapova Withdraws from Brisbane, Still on for Australian Open: Fan Reaction – Tennis – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=25 January 2012 }}</ref> Her first tournament of the season was the ], where she was seeded fourth. Sharapova advanced to the final, defeating ], ], 30th seed ], 14th seed ], compatriot ] and world No. 2, ]. In a match that decided who would become the new world No. 1, she lost to Victoria Azarenka, in straight sets. As a result, her ranking improved to world No. 3 behind Azarenka and Kvitová. She then played in the ] in Paris, where she lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Angelique Kerber. As a result, her ranking improved to world No. 2.


]
Sharapova was the fifth seed at the ], her lowest seeding at a ] singles tournament since the ].{{Fact|date=January 2008}} On the way to the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated ] in the second round<ref></ref> and ] in the fourth round. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated World No. 1 ] 6-4, 6-0,<ref></ref> snapping Henin's 32-match winning streak. Sharapova then reached her second consecutive ] final when she defeated an injured ] 6-3, 6-1. She defeated ] 7-5, 6-3 in the final, dropping only 10 service points during the match.<ref></ref> Sharapova now needs just the ] to complete a career Grand Slam in singles.
At the ], after battling for over three hours, Sharapova defeated compatriot Maria Kirilenko to set up a semifinal meeting with Ana Ivanovic. Sharapova advanced to the final after Ivanovic retired due to a hip injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jkWBQLZ15wdEi6m7Hpp14Jg8J8mg?docId=CNG.697f089e0b767f4cfb209463a0122c94.61 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615221223/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jkWBQLZ15wdEi6m7Hpp14Jg8J8mg?docId=CNG.697f089e0b767f4cfb209463a0122c94.61 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2013 |title=Ivanovic sweats on extent of hip injury |author=Greg Heakes |date=17 May 2012 |access-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref> In the final, she played world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in a rematch of the Australian Open final, but lost again in straight sets. Sharapova's next tournament was the ], where she was seeded 2nd and received a bye. In the final, Sharapova lost in straight sets to fifth seed Agnieszka Radwańska. This was her third loss of the year in finals out of four tournaments played so far. In the ] in Stuttgart, Sharapova was seeded second. She had a bye in the first round, and advanced to the third round after ] retired in the second set. She won her first title of the year in Stuttgart after defeating world number one Victoria Azarenka. In doing so, Sharapova defeated three current Grand Slam title holders to win the tournament. Sharapova then played the ], a Premier Mandatory event. In the third round, Sharapova's opponent ] was unable to compete and withdrew from the tournament, earning Sharapova a walkover into the quarterfinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sharapova-serena-reach-madrid-open-quarters/|title=Sharapova, Serena reach Madrid Open quarters|publisher=]|date=10 May 2012|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> She was then beaten by eventual champion Serena Williams, in straight sets.


As the defending champion and second seed at the ], Sharapova had a bye in the first round. In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated Angelique Kerber to advance to the final for the second year in a row. In the final, Sharapova saved match point for a 2-hour 52-minute win over Li Na for her 26th career title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18138072|title=Maria Sharapova |publisher=BBC|date=20 May 2013|access-date=21 May 2012}}</ref> This marked the fourth time Sharapova had successfully defended a title.
After the Australian Open, Sharapova participated for the first time in ]. In the quarterfinal tie against ], Sharapova helped ] reach the semifinals by winning her singles matches against ] and ].


Sharapova was seeded second at the ], where she defeated ], ], 28th seed ], ], ] and Petra Kvitová on her way to the finals, allowing her to regain the world No. 1 ranking. In the final, she defeated ] for her fourth career Grand Slam title (her first since 2008) and her first French Open title. Sharapova became only the tenth woman to complete a Career Grand Slam with the French Open victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/sharapova-savours-her-sweetest-triumph-as-reward-for-comeback-7834856.html|title=Sharapova savours her 'sweetest triumph' as reward for comeback |date=11 June 2012|work=]|access-date=11 June 2012 }}</ref> During the tournament, Sharapova was asked by the ] to bear the flag at the opening ceremony for the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/blog/eye-on-olympics/19352136/maria-sharapova-to-carry-russian-flag-in-opening-ceremony|title=Maria Sharapova to carry Russian flag in opening ceremony|work=CBS Sports|author=Reid Cherner|date=14 June 2012|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> becoming the first ] to receive this honor.
At the ] in ], Sharapova lost her first set of the year in the second round when she defeated ]. In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated ] 6-4, 6-3. She is scheduled to play ] in the final.


Sharapova decided not to compete in any of the grass-court warm-up events and instead proceeded straight to the ], where she was the top seed at a major event for the first time since the ]. She breezed through her first three matches over ], ] and the crafty ], extended her winning streak to 15 matches. However, she was upset in the fourth round in straight sets by the 15th-seeded ], whom she beat in the previous year's semifinals. Due to being unable to defend her finalist points from the year before, she relinquished the world No. 1 ranking back to Azarenka.
==Personal life==
The ] in 1986 compelled Sharapova's parents, Yuri and Yelena, to move from ], ], to the town of ] in ] to live with Yelena's father.<ref name="ITH_2007_08_13">{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/13/sports/NA-SPT-TEN-Marias-Mission.php|author=]|publisher=]|date=2007-08-13|title=Maria Sharapova plans 1st trip back to Chernobyl since family fled}}</ref> Maria was born the following year.


She made her Olympic debut at the ] in London and was seeded third in the singles draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/tennis/story/_/id/8229534/2012-london-olympics-serena-williams-maria-sharapova-play-gold-medal|title=Serena, Maria Sharapova in final|publisher=]|date=3 August 2012|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> She easily beat ] and hometown favorite ] in straight sets, before avenging her defeat against Lisicki four weeks prior by beating the German in the third round in a tight three-set match. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated fellow former No. 1, Kim Clijsters, to advance to the semifinals, where she faced her compatriot, Maria Kirilenko. Sharapova defeated Kirilenko to reach the Olympic final and guarantee a medal. Facing off against rival Serena Williams, with both players looking for their first Olympic singles gold medal (and a chance to complete a career Golden Slam), Sharapova was thrashed by Williams<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/tennis/9452056/London-2012-Olympics-Serena-Williams-storms-to-gold-medal-as-she-thrashes-Maria-Sharapova-in-womens-final.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/tennis/9452056/London-2012-Olympics-Serena-Williams-storms-to-gold-medal-as-she-thrashes-Maria-Sharapova-in-womens-final.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=London 2012 Olympics: Serena Williams storms to gold medal as she thrashes Maria Sharapova in women's final |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=4 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in what was to be her worst defeat to the American, winning only a single game. Nonetheless, with this performance, Sharapova won an Olympic silver medal and overtook Agnieszka Radwańska as world No. 2.
Sharapova's father brought her to the United States when she was seven years old, to attend the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tennis/maria-sharapova-inc/2008/01/19/1200620273539.html|title=Maria Sharapova Inc.||date=2008-01-20|publisher=] (])}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/tennis/features/newsid_3865000/3865361.stm|title=Tennis academy where stars are born|publisher=]|}}</ref><ref name="Guardian_2004_11_28">{{cite web|url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/tennis/theobserver/story/0,10541,1361452,00.html|title=Love match turns to hate as Russian stars attack Maria|publisher=] (United Kingdom)|author=Dennis Campbell|date=2004-11-28}}</ref> Her mother, Yelena, could not come with them because of visa restrictions, and followed two years later.<ref name="ITH_2007_08_13"/> Sharapova has lived in the United States since then, but retains her Russian citizenship.<ref name="Guardian_2004_11_28"/> She has a home in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1183711,00.html|title=Celebrity Q & A - Maria Sharapova|publisher=]|date=2006-04-17|author=Kathy Ehrich-Dowd}}</ref>


Sharapova did not compete in any of the summer hard-court warm-up events after the Olympics,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-aug-27-la-sp-sn-sharapova-not-pregnant-20120827-story.html|title=Maria Sharapova isn't pregnant, denies Istanbul wedding rumor|work=]|author=Diane Pucin|date=27 August 2012|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> pulling out of both ] and ] (where she was the defending champion) due to a stomach virus. Seeded third at the ], Sharapova breezed through her first three matches against ], ], and ], losing a total of just seven games. In the fourth round, compatriot Nadia Petrova took it to a third set and was winning until a rain delay. After the delay, Sharapova came back to win, advancing to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time since she won the tournament in 2006. In the quarterfinals, she faced 11th seed ], who was 4–0 up before a rain delay, which delayed the match a whole day. Sharapova then came back from a set down to win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/8342222/2012-us-open-maria-sharapova-once-again-reigns-rain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907134135/http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/8342222/2012-us-open-maria-sharapova-once-again-reigns-rain |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2012 |title=Maria Sharapova reigns after rain |publisher=] |author=Jane McManus |date=6 September 2012 |access-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref> In the semifinals, Sharapova lost to world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka despite winning the first set.
==Awards==
] at the Foundation Tennis Exhibition (December 2007)]]
:''See: ]
;2003
* Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year
'''2004'''
* WTA Player of the Year
* WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
;2005
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation
* Master of Sports of Russia
* Prix de Citron Roland Garros
;2006
* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation
* Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year
;2007
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* ESPY Best International Female Athlete
* ESPN Hottest Female Athlete
;2008
* Named the ] female Athlete of the Month by the ] for her performance at the ]


Sharapova's next tournament was the ] in Tokyo. She made it to the quarterfinals, losing to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/172129.html|title= Sharapova and Azarenka out in Tokyo |publisher=]|date=27 September 2012|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> At the ] she was seeded second. In the finals she was again defeated by Azarenka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/sportsscene/20121008/104625.shtml|title=Azarenka overwhelms Sharapova to win China Open|publisher=China Central Television|date=8 October 2012|access-date=2 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104184818/http://english.cntv.cn/program/sportsscene/20121008/104625.shtml|archive-date=4 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sharapova's next tournament was the ] in Istanbul, where she was seeded ]. She defeated Sara Errani, Agnieszka Radwańska, and Samantha Stosur in the round-robin matches. In the semifinals, Sharapova beat Azarenka, bringing their head-to-head meetings to 7–5 in Azarenka's favour. Although Sharapova made it to the final, Azarenka clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking with her two round-robin wins. She lost to Serena Williams for the 9th consecutive time in the final and the third time that year, notching her best score line in three matchups with a 4–6, 3–6 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtachampionships.com/page/Scores/0,,12910,00.html |title=Scores |publisher=WTA |access-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810072751/http://www.wtachampionships.com/page/Scores/0%2C%2C12910%2C00.html |archive-date=10 August 2013 }}</ref>
==Endorsements==
Sharapova's endorsements have earned her considerably more than she has won in tournament play. In June 2005, Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over ]18 million. (], the American television network, reported in August 2006 that the figure is over US$20 million.) The majority is made from endorsements and sponsorships. In a later interview, she said, "You know, one of the greatest things about being an athlete and, you know, making money is realizing that you can help, you know, help the world, and especially children, who I absolutely love working with."{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


===2013: Third shoulder injury===
In 2005 during a photo shoot for ], a lewd photo was taken of Sharapova without her knowledge by Japanese advertising agency ]. The company currently has a lawsuit related to this incident.<ref></ref>
Sharapova's first scheduled tournament of the ] was the ], where she was seeded second. However, she withdrew from the tournament before it began, citing a collarbone injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/8798746/maria-sharapova-withdraws-brisbane-international-due-collarbone-pain|title=Maria Sharapova skips Brisbane|publisher=]|date=1 January 2013|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> She started her season at the ] seeded second. She defeated ] and ] in the first two rounds without losing a game in either match, the first time a player won in back-to-back ]s at a Grand Slam tournament since the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3042968/title/once-in-a-lifetime-for-sharapova|title=Once In A Lifetime For Sharapova|publisher=WTA|date=16 January 2013|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> Sharapova then defeated Venus Williams, ], and Ekaterina Makarova, where in losing nine games, she overtook ]' record of fewest games dropped heading into a Grand Slam semifinal.<ref>, BBC Sport, Retrieved 22 January 2013</ref> She lost to ] in the semifinals.


]
Sharapova is visible in and outside of the court for her looks. Sharapova posed in a six-page ] photoshoot spread in the 2006 issue of the '']'', annual magazine that debuted on ], along with 25 scantily-clad ]. Sharapova joined the ranks of other athletes who have previously appeared in the publication. In ], Sharapova was listed by '']'' as among the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world.
She reached the semifinals at the Qatar Open, losing to Serena Williams for the 10th straight time in her career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/436019/20130216/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-wta-qatar-victoria.htm|title=Qatar Total Open: Williams Blasts Sharapova as New World Number One Rolls into Doha Final|work=International Business Times|author=Martin Baccardax|date=16 February 2013|access-date=22 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218071902/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/436019/20130216/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-wta-qatar-victoria.htm|archive-date=18 February 2013}}</ref> Her next tournament was ], where she was seeded second. She received a bye into the second round and successfully reached the final without dropping a set, where she faced 2011 Indian wells champion and former world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki. After an hour and twenty-one minutes, Sharapova won the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/9062961/maria-sharapova-wins-indian-wells-title-caroline-wozniacki|title=Maria Sharapova wins Indian Wells|publisher=]|author=Martin Baccardax|date=17 March 2013|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> This was Sharapova's 28th career title and second at Indian Wells. Her win also made her the No. 2 player in the world behind Serena Williams.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://tennis.si.com/2013/03/17/sharapova-wins-indian-wells-bnp-wozniacki/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320110024/http://tennis.si.com/2013/03/17/sharapova-wins-indian-wells-bnp-wozniacki/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2013 |title=Maria Sharapova dominates Caroline Wozniacki for second Indian Wells title |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=17 March 2013 |access-date=22 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubitennis.com/english/sport/tennis/2013/03/21/862125-sharapova_aims_coast_coast_double.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606213820/http://www.ubitennis.com/english/sport/tennis/2013/03/21/862125-sharapova_aims_coast_coast_double.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2014|title=Sharapova aims for coast-to-coast double|publisher=Ubisporting|date=23 March 2013|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sharapova-sails-past-wozniacki-in-indian-wells-final/|title=Sharapova sails past Wozniacki in Indian Wells final|publisher=]|date=17 March 2013|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>


Sharapova then competed at the ]. Once again she reached the final without dropping a set and faced world No. 1, Serena Williams. Maria won the first set. However, Serena won the second and dominated the third set. This was Maria's 11th consecutive loss against Serena.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/12/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-madrid-final_n_3262472.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608141813/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/12/serena-williams-maria-sharapova-madrid-final_n_3262472.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2013 |title=Serena Williams Beats Maria Sharapova To Win Madrid Open 2013, Retain No. 1 Ranking |author=Joseph Wilson |work=] |date=12 May 2013 |access-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1636598-serena-williams-vs-maria-sharapova-world-no-1-will-dominate-madrid-open-final|title=Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova: World No. 1 Will Dominate Madrid Open Final|work=Bleacher Report|author=Patrick Clarke|date=11 May 2013|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2006, '']'' named Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year.


Next, she played at the indoor clay event in Stuttgart, where she was the defending champion. Her first three matches were long three-setters: she first beat world No. 25, Lucie Šafářová, dropping the second set on a tiebreak, then Ana Ivanovic, then in the semifinals, she won against third seed ]. In the final, in what was her ninth victory against the Chinese out of 14 matches, she beat second seed world No. 5 ] in straight sets to win her 29th career title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maria Sharapova beats Li Na to retain Stuttgart title|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/22331232|access-date=28 April 2013}}</ref>
On ], ], Sharapova and ] signed a four-year sponsorship agreement,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mobiles2day.com/2008/01/14/maria-sharapova-and-sony-ericsson-sign-4-year-contract/ | title = Maria Sharapova and Sony Ericsson sign 4 year contract| publisher = Mobiles2day.com}} Maria Sharapova and Sony Ericsson sign 4 year contract</ref> and Canon U.S.A., Inc., announced an extension of its marketing relationship with Sharapova through 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20080114_sharapovarenewal.html | title = CANON U.S.A. EXTENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH TENNIS STAR MARIA SHARAPOVA THROUGH 2010| publisher = Canon U.S.A., Inc.}}</ref>


A week later, she competed at the ], reaching the final, again without dropping a set. She faced Serena Williams for the 15th time, losing for the 12th consecutive time in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2013/05/12/Serena-Williams-repeats-as-Madrid-Open-champion/UPI-57451368363562/|title=Serena Williams repeats as Madrid Open champion|work=United Press International|date=12 May 2013|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref>
In a poll run by Britain's ] magazine, Sharapova was voted the seventh most eligible bachelorette.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21300664-10388,00.html| work = NEWS.COM.AU | title = Rod's daughter most eligible |date=February 28, 2007| accessdate = 2007-02-28 }}</ref> Voting took into consideration both "wealth and looks."


Next, she played in Rome, where she was seeded second and had a bye in the first round. She beat 16th seed ] in straight sets (with the loss of three games) in the third round, but then did not play her quarterfinal match against seventh seed Sara Errani and retired from the tournament due to a viral illness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/17/sport/tennis/djokovic-nadal-tennis-sharapova|title=Djokovic loses at Rome Masters, hurting French Open preparations|work=CNN|date=18 May 2013|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/serena-azarenka-reach-semis-sharapova-pulls-out-in-rome/|title=Serena, Azarenka reach semis; Sharapova pulls out in Rome|publisher=]|date=17 May 2013|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>
===Product endorsement and equipment===
Sharapova's first ] (before she entered the professional circuit) was one given to her by a family friend ]<ref>]</ref>.


At the ], Sharapova reached the final again, beating Azarenka in three sets in the semifinals, but there she lost in straight sets to Serena Williams. At ] she was comprehensively beaten in the second round by qualifier ]. Sharapova then returned to the tour at the ], where she lost her opening match to Sloane Stephens in three sets. A week later Sharapova withdrew from the US Open, citing a shoulder injury, which prematurely ended her season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maria Sharapova withdraws from the U.S. Open|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2013/08/21/maria-sharapova-withdraws-us-open/2683231/|work=USA Today|access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>
Sharapova used the Prince Tour Diablo for part of 2003 and then used several different Prince racquets until the ]. She gave the racquet she used in the ] final to ] when taping '']''. Sharapova began using the Prince Shark MP at that tournament and had a major part in the production of the Shark racquet. She then switched to the Prince O3 White racquet in January 2006.<ref></ref>


===2014: Comeback and second French Open title===
She endorses ] accessories, apparel, and footwear. She is well known for designing her tennis outfits, her most memorable being her 2006 nighttime ] dress, inspired by ]'s look from ].
{{main|2014 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
Sharapova had not played since August 2013 due to a recurring shoulder injury and made her comeback at the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Maria Sharapova to make tennis comeback at Brisbane International|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/maria-sharapova-to-make-tennis-comeback-at-brisbane-international/story-fndkzym4-1226759913966|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108032712/http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/maria-sharapova-to-make-tennis-comeback-at-brisbane-international/story-fndkzym4-1226759913966|url-status=dead}}</ref> She advanced to the semifinals where she was beaten in straight sets by Serena Williams. At the ], Sharapova, ranked third, was knocked out of the tournament in the fourth round by the 20th seed, and eventual finalist, ]. Sharapova lost the match in three sets. She then participated in ] where she was upset in the semifinals to fellow Russian and eventual tournament winner ], in three sets.


In March, playing in the ], she was beaten by 22-year-old Italian ] in the third round, in three sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tennis.si.com/2014/03/10/maria-sharapova-camila-giorgi-indian-wells/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311045906/http://tennis.si.com/2014/03/10/maria-sharapova-camila-giorgi-indian-wells/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2014 |title=Maria Sharapova ousted by Camila Giorgi in third round at Indian Wells &#124; Beyond The Baseline |publisher=Tennis.si.com |access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref> This dropped her ranking to world No. 7. She reached the semifinals in Miami, facing Serena Williams in a rematch of last year's final and lost her 15th consecutive match to Williams. In April, she won the ], her first title of the year and 30th of her career by defeating Ana Ivanovic in three sets. Stuttgart is the only tournament Sharapova won three times. In May, Sharapova won the ], her second title of the year and first in Madrid, defeating ] in three sets. With nine clay titles, she joined Venus Williams as the third most successful active player on the surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Sharapova-wins-Madrid-Open-title/articleshow/34985579.cms|title=Sharapova wins Madrid Open title|work=]|access-date=11 May 2014}}</ref> Sharapova then competed in the ] in Rome, where she made the third round. She lost to Ana Ivanovic in straight sets.
'''Current Sponsors:'''


Sharapova was seeded seventh at the French Open and defeated Ksenia Pervak, Tsvetana Pironkova, and Paula Ormaechea in the first three rounds, all in straight sets. In the fourth round, she defeated Samantha Stosur, reeling off nine straight games from a set and 3–4 down. This marked her 14th win in 16 meetings with the Australian. In the quarterfinals, she defeated ], again coming back from a set down, to reach the semifinals at the French for the fourth consecutive year. In the semifinals, she defeated ], once again coming back from a set down, to reach her third consecutive French Open final. In the final, she defeated ] in three sets to win her second French Open title and fifth overall Major title. This was the first time since 2001 that a third set was contested in the final. The match took just over three hours and has been described as one of the best women's finals in recent years.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meyers|first1=Nalia-Jean|title=Maria Sharapova Wins French Open|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/sports/tennis/maria-sharapova-wins-french-open.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=7 June 2014 |access-date=7 June 2014}}</ref> At ], Sharapova reached the fourth round, where she lost to Angelique Kerber, the ninth seed, in three sets.
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*Parlux Fragrances
*] - signed a lifetime endorsement in 2007.
*Samantha Thavasa
*]
*]
*]


Sharapova then played the ] in ] where she was the fourth seed. She received a first round bye and faced Garbiñe Muguruza in her opener, she won in three sets. In the following round she lost in three sets to Muguruza's compatriot, ]. At the ], Sharapova was seeded fifth and defeated ] after having a first round bye. She then went on to defeat Pavlyuchenkova and newly crowned world No. 2, Simona Halep, to reach the last four. She faced Ivanovic again but lost in a roller coaster three-setter despite having two match points. Sharapova then travelled to New York for the ] where she was the 5th seed. She defeated compatriot ] and Romanian ] before overcoming 26th seeded German ] in round 3 to set up a clash with Caroline Wozniacki in the round of 16. Sharapova lost to Wozniacki in three sets.
==Activism==
On ], ], Sharapova was appointed a ] for the ] (UNDP) and donated ]100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects. She is planning on traveling back to the area after Wimbledon in 2008.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


Sharapova next played the inaugural ] where she was seeded fourth. After receiving a first-round bye, she defeated compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets and next faced ]. Although Sharapova won their two previous encounters, she was stunned by Timea in two tight sets, thus ending her campaign at the Premier-5 tournament.
==Quotations==
* When asked at the press conference after the ] final about her father's illegal signaling and feeding her during the match: ''I believe, at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana''.<ref></ref>
* When questioned about her on-court grunting at the ]: ''I know this is your job. But take your notepads, take your pencils down, take your grunt-o-meters down, the fashion police, put it all away and just watch the match.''<ref></ref>
* '''Reporter''' (after Sharapova won her second round at the ]): ''So, how do you feel when you get back on court after not hitting balls, do you actually feel stronger and faster as a result''?
::'''Sharapova''': ''No, I feel terrible. I feel like a cow on ice. Especially on clay''.<ref></ref>
* ''I’ve been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience''.<ref></ref>
* ''When I was working my way to the top of tennis, I didn't say I was number two, I said I wanted to be number one''.<ref></ref>
* ''A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn’t have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible''.<ref></ref>


The following week, Sharapova played the ] in Beijing, a Premier Mandatory-level tournament. Reaching the final without dropping a set, Sharapova defeated world No. 9 Ana Ivanovic in the semifinals. In the final, Sharapova met reigning Wimbledon champion and world No. 3, Petra Kvitová. Sharapova won the match in 2 hours 30 minutes, defeating the Czech in three sets. By virtue of the win, Sharapova's ranking rose from No. 4 to No. 2 in the world and she secured herself the second seeding for the WTA year-end Championship. Sharapova closed in on the year-end number-one ranking spot, 467 points behind Williams.
==Grand Slam singles finals==
===Wins (3)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Championship
|width="175"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| ] || ] || {{flagicon|United States}} ] || 6-1, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
| ] || ] || {{flagicon|BEL}} ] || 6-4, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| ] || ] || {{flagicon|SRB}} ] || 7-5, 6-3
|}


Sharapova was ranked No. 2 heading into the WTA Tour Championships, with a chance of overtaking Serena Williams as world No. 1. She was drawn in the white group, with Kvitová, Radwańska, and Wozniacki. Her first match was a three set loss to Wozniacki. Sharapova also lost her second round robin match to Kvitová in straight sets. She ended the year with a win against Radwańska in three sets, finishing third overall in the White Group. She ended the year as world No. 2, behind Serena Williams.
=== Runner-up (1) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Championship
|width="175"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| ] || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6-1, 6-2
|}


===2015: Fourth Australian Open final===
==WTA Tour Championships singles finals==
{{main|2015 Maria Sharapova tennis season}}
===Win (1)===
Sharapova kicked off her 2015 season at the Brisbane International where she was top seed and received a bye in the first round. Sharapova defeated ] and Carla Suárez Navarro. In the semifinals, Sharapova faced ], beating her in straight sets. Reaching the final without dropping a set, Sharapova played an intense match against second seed Ana Ivanovic but came through in three sets. This was Sharapova's tenth win over Ivanovic and by winning her 34th title, it meant that Sharapova had won at least one title every year for 13 consecutive years. Also, it was just her second title in Australia so far, beating Ivanovic both times. Sharapova's next tournament was the ], where she beat ] and fellow countrywoman ] (despite having two match points against her) in the first two rounds, before beating ] and ] in straight sets. There, she beat seventh-seeded Eugenie Bouchard and Ekaterina Makarova, in straight sets, to make her fourth Australian Open final, where she lost to Serena Williams in straight sets, worsening her record against her to 2–17. In February, following her participation in the ], Sharapova played in ], where she beat ], ] and ] to advance the semifinals. Sharapova later withdrew from her match against ], citing a stomach virus. Next, in ], she beat ] and Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, before losing to defending champion ] in the fourth round in three sets. After receiving a bye in the first round of the ], Sharapova lost in the second round to fellow Russian ] in straight sets, marking her earliest exit from the tournament since her first appearance in Miami in 2003.
{|class=wikitable
|-
|width="75"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Venue
|width="175"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-
|-
||2004 ||] || {{flagicon|United States}} ]|| 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
|}


Sharapova began her clay season in ] where she was the three-time defending champion. After receiving a first-round bye, she lost in the second round to Angelique Kerber in three sets, snapping Sharapova's win streak at the tournament and marking her first-ever loss at the tournament, having won it three times in a row (], ], & ]). The loss also snapped a 64 match win streak on clay where Sharapova won the first set and went on to win the match. The last time Sharapova lost a match on clay, after winning the first set was against Dinara Safina in the fourth round at the ]. As a result of the loss, Sharapova lost the No. 2 ranking to Simona Halep. Sharapova's next clay court tournament was the Madrid Open, where she was the defending champion. She advanced to the semifinals. There, she was beaten by Svetlana Kuznetsova for the first time since 2008. Sharapova's next tournament was the Italian Open in Rome where she was seeded third. She beat Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals in straight sets to set up a rematch with ]. She beat Gavrilova in straight sets to advance to the final, where she faced Carla Suárez Navarro. After losing the first set, Sharapova managed to claim the next two sets and her third ] title. By winning Rome, Sharapova temporarily reclaimed the No. 2 ranking over Halep. Sharapova was seeded fourth at ] and reached the semifinals, where she lost to Serena Williams (the eventual champion) in straight sets. After Wimbledon, she withdrew from the ], citing a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Open 2015: Injured Sharapova withdraws from Flushing Meadows |url=U.S. Open 2015: Injured Sharapova withdraws from Flushing Meadows |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> This caused her to lose the No. 2 ranking to Halep again.
===Runner-up (1)===
{|class=wikitable
|-
|width="75"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Venue
|width="175"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-
|-
|2007 ||] || {{flagicon|Belgium}} ]|| 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
|}


She then received a wildcard into ]<ref>{{cite web|title = Maria Sharapova To Come Back In Wuhan|url = http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5016773/title/maria-sharapova-to-come-back-in-wuhan|website = Women's Tennis Association|access-date = 5 January 2016}}</ref> and received a bye into the second round. However, she retired in her match against ] in the 3rd set, citing a left forearm injury.<ref>{{cite web|title = Injury Cuts Short Sharapova Comeback|url = http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5033380/title/injury-cuts-short-sharapova-comeback|website = Women's Tennis Association|access-date = 5 January 2016}}</ref> She then withdrew from the ],<ref>{{cite web|title = Maria Sharapova Withdraws From Beijing|url = http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5038315/title/maria-sharapova-withdraws-from-beijing|website = Women's Tennis Association|access-date = 5 January 2016}}</ref> where she was the defending champion, to recover in time for the ] and the ]. At the ], she was drawn into the red group, alongside Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwańska, and Flavia Pennetta. She then won all three of her round-robin matches and achieved 1st position in her group. Her win over Pennetta also marked the last match of the Italian's career. Sharapova then played the player who finished 2nd in the White Group, Petra Kvitová. She lost the match in straight sets, despite having a 5–1 lead in the second set.
==WTA Tour titles (20)==
===Singles (17)===
<table width="53%">
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="left">
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''Legend'''
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| Grand Slam (3)
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| WTA Championships (1)
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| Tier I (5)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| Tier II (2)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| Tier III (5)
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| Tier IV (1)
|}
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="left">
<table class="wikitable">
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>'''Titles by Surface'''</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hard (13)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grass (3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Clay (0)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carpet (1)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|HUN}} ]
| 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|VEN}} ]
| 6-2 retired
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 3.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|FRA}} ]
| 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
|4.
| ], ]
| ''']''', United Kingdom
| Grass
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-1, 6-4
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| 5.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|POL}} ]
| 6-1, 6-1
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 6.
| ], ]
| Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-0, 6-1
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| 7.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams
| 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 8.
| ], ]
| ], Tokyo
| Carpet (i)
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 9.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|AUS}} ]
| 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 10.
| ], ]
| Birmingham, United Kingdom
| Grass
| {{flagicon|SCG}} ]
| 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 11.
| ], ]
| ], U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} ]
| 6-1, 6-2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 12.
| ], ]
| ], U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} ]
| 7-5, 7-5
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 13.
| ], ]
| ''']''', U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} ]
| 6-4, 6-4
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 14.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|SVK}} ]
| 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 15.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard (i)
| {{flagicon|RUS}} ]
| 7-5, 6-2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 16.
| ], ]
| San Diego, U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|SUI}} ]
| 6-2, 3-6, 6-0
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 17.
| ], ]
| ''']'''
| Hard
| {{flagicon|SRB}} ]
| 7-5, 6-3
|}


Sharapova then played in the ], winning both of her matches, against ] and got revenge against Petra Kvitová for her loss in the WTA Finals. However, ] eventually lost 2–3 after falling in a crucial doubles rubber. The Russian ended the season as the world No. 4, despite not playing the US Open Series and missing most of the Fall Asian Hardcourt season. She had a win–loss record of 39–9 and won two titles, reaching the second week in all of the Grand Slams she played.
===Doubles (3)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
| '''No.'''
| '''Date'''
| '''Tournament'''
| '''Surface'''
| '''Partnering'''
| '''Opponents in the final'''
| '''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|THA}} ]
| {{flagicon|USA}} ] &<br> {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 7-6(1), 6-0
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|THA}} Tamarine Tanasugarn
| {{flagicon|UKR}} ] &<br> {{flagicon|GER}} ]
| 6-1, 6-4
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 3.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|RUS}} ]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} ] &<br> {{flagicon|VEN}} ]
| 6-2, 6-1
|}


===2016: More injuries and doping suspension===
==WTA Tour runner-ups (8)==
Sharapova began her 2016 season at the ] where she was the defending champion. She would have faced Ekaterina Makarova in the first round, but withdrew hours before the match, citing a left forearm injury, and was replaced by ].<ref>{{cite web|title = Halep & Sharapova Out Of Brisbane|url = http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5250538/title/halep-sharapova-out-of-brisbane|website = Women's Tennis Association|access-date = 5 January 2016}}</ref>
===Singles (7)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''Legend'''
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| Grand Slam (1)
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| WTA Championships (1)
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| Tier I (3)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| Tier II (1)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| Tier III (1)
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| Tier IV & V (0)
|}
{| class=wikitable
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|Australia}} ]
| 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} ]
| 6-3, 7-5
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| 3.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} ]
| 7-5, 6-2
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4.
| ], ]
| Miami, U.S.
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} ]
| 6-4, 6-3
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
| 5.
| ], ]
| ''']''', ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-1, 6-2
|- bgcolor="CCFFCC"
| 6.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Grass
| {{flagicon|SRB}} ]
| 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
|- bgcolor="#FF6666"
| 7.
| ], ]
| ], ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Justine Henin
| 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
|}


Due to Agnieszka Radwańska winning the Shenzhen Open, Sharapova was seeded fifth at the ]. She was drawn to face ] in the first round and won in straight sets. She then won her second round match against ], also in straight sets. Sharapova then lost her first set in the tournament as she defeated ], in three sets. In the fourth round, she then played her first career match against ] and won in two tight sets over two hours of play. Sharapova then faced Serena Williams in the quarterfinal, a repeat of the previous year's final. Although she started the match brightly, she was defeated in straight sets. She failed to defend her finalist points from the previous year and fell to sixth in the rankings after the tournament.
===Doubles (1)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
| '''No.'''
| '''Date'''
| '''Tournament'''
| '''Surface'''
| '''Partnering'''
| '''Opponents in the final'''
| '''Score'''
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 1.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|RUS}} ]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} ] &<br> {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-4, 7-6(0)
|}


After the Australian Open, Sharapova was nominated by team captain ] to play the ], but she had a forearm injury and was only listed for the doubles match.<ref>{{cite web|title = Sharapova to Sit out Fed Cup Singles – Tennis Now|url = http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2016/February/Sharapova-to-Sit-out-Fed-Cup-Singles.aspx|website = www.tennisnow.com|access-date = 6 February 2016}}</ref> Russia lost the first three matches and chose Makarova to replace Sharapova for the dead doubles match. In the end, Russia lost 3–1 but by being nominated for the match, Sharapova successfully qualified for the ] having played sufficient Fed Cup matches to meet the criteria.
==ITF titles (4)==
===Singles (4)===
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|'''No.'''
|'''Date'''
|'''Tournament'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Opponent in the final'''
|'''Score'''
|-
| 1.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Clay
| {{flagicon|JPN}} ]
| 6-4, 6-1
|-
| 2.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
|-
| 3.
| ], ]
| ], ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 6-0, 6-1
|-
| 4.
| ], ]
| ], U.S.
| Clay
| {{flagicon|AUS}} ]
| 6-4, 6-3
|}


Citing the left forearm injury sustained at the start of the year, Sharapova withdrew from the ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5337381/title/sharapova-out-of-doha|title = Sharapova Out Of Doha|website = Women's Tennis Association|access-date = 27 February 2016}}</ref> and a week before the ], she withdrew from that for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5391658/title/sharapova-out-of-indian-wells|title=Sharapova Out Of Indian Wells|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
==Singles performance timeline==
''To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament when the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. This table is current through the first round of ], which ended on ], ].''
<!--if you can't understand the italicized note, it just means WAIT till she exits in the tournament, either with a win or a loss so an editor can do it in just one go. and in updating numbers, include the update of tournaments played, finals reached and won, surface win-loss, overall win-loss, and these numbers in the career column, as well as the win-loss in the footnote. -->
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Tournament !! ] !! ] !! ] !! ] !! ] !! ] !! ] !! Career SR !! Career Win-Loss
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|''']'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 6'''
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds at her first Australian Open in 2003. Do not subtract from the following Career Win-Loss number, only update it properly-->
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|28-5
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 5'''
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds at her first French Open in 2003. Do not subtract from the following Career Win-Loss number, only update it properly-->
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|19-5
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|''']'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 5'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|23-4
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|''']'''
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 5'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|17-4
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|Grand Slam SR
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0 / 0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|1 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|1 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0 / 4
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|1 / 1
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|3 / 21
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''Grand Slam Win-Loss'''
|align="center" |0-0
<!--Sharapova won three qualifying rounds each at her first Australian and French Open in 2003. Do not change the following Grand Slam Win-Loss number-->
|align="center" |10-4
|align="center" |15-3
|align="center" |19-4
|align="center" |20-3
|align="center" |16-4
|align="center" |7-0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''87-18'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]<sup>1</sup>
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 0'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|0-0
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 6'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|15-5
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 5'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|14-5
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 1'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|2-1
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|4-2
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|5-2
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|1-2
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 4'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|9-3
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''0 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|2-2
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]<sup>1</sup>
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |-
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 2'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|7-1
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]<sup>1</sup>
|align="center" |-
|align="center" |-
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
|align="center" |-
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''2 / 3'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|12-1
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|]
|align="center" |A
|align="center" |A
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|''']'''
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|'''1 / 4'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;"|13-5
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|Tournaments played
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |14
|align="center" |20
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |15
|align="center" |13
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |80
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|Finals reached
|align="center" |0
|align="center" |2
|align="center" |6
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |7
|align="center" |4
|align="center" |1
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |24
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''Tournaments Won'''
|align="center" |'''0'''
|align="center" |'''2'''
|align="center" |'''5'''
|align="center" |'''3'''
|align="center" |'''5'''
|align="center" |'''1'''
|align="center" |'''1'''
|align="center" |N/A
|align="center" |'''17'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Hardcourt Win-Loss
|align="center" |1-2
|align="center" |20-8
|align="center" |34-11
|align="center" |29-7
|align="center" |45-5
|align="center" |24-5
|align="center" |9-0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |162-38
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Clay Win-Loss
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" |5-2
|align="center" |8-3
|align="center" |9-3
|align="center" |3-1
|align="center" |7-2
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |32-11
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Grass Win-Loss
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" |9-2
|align="center" |12-0
|align="center" |10-1
|align="center" |8-2
|align="center" |7-2
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |46-7
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| Carpet Win-Loss
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" |1-1
|align="center" |5-1
|align="center" |3-1
|align="center" |2-2
|align="center" |0-0
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |N/A
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |11-5
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''Overall Win-Loss'''
|align="center" |'''1-2'''
|align="center" |'''34-12'''
|align="center" |'''55-15'''
|align="center" |'''53-12'''
|align="center" |'''59-9'''
|align="center" |'''40-11'''
|align="center" |'''9-0'''
|align="center" |'''N/A'''
|align="center" |'''251-61'''<sup>2</sup>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| '''Year End Ranking'''
|align="center" |'''186
|align="center" |'''32
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''4
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''4
|align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|'''2
|align="center" style="background:#EEE8AA;"|'''5
|align="center" |
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''N/A'''
|align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |'''N/A'''
|}


Following a failed drug test from the ], in which she tested positive for ], a substance that had been banned, effective 1 January 2016, by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Sharapova was provisionally suspended from competitive tennis with effect from 12 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/news/225826.aspx|title=Press release: Tennis Anti-Doping Programme statement regarding Maria Sharapova|website=www.itftennis.com|access-date=17 March 2016|archive-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108212426/https://www.itftennis.com/news/225826.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 8 June she was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/36482288|title=Maria Sharapova: Russian banned for two years for failed drugs test|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 June 2016|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref> Russian sports minister ] has implied that Sharapova was targeted due to the political crisis in Russian-American relations.<ref>Barabash, Taras. . ''R-Sport.'' 16 June 2016. ()</ref> In October 2016, Sharapova's ban was reduced from 24 months (2 years) to 15 months, starting from 26 January 2016, the date of the drug test she had failed.
A = did not participate in the tournament.


===2017: Return from suspension, first WTA title in two years===
SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Sharapova returned to the WTA Tour in April 2017. She was given wildcards to compete in the following three WTA tournaments: ], ] and ]. She played her first match of her comeback on 26 April at the ], a tournament that she had previously won on three occasions. Her first-round opponent was Italian ], who she went on to defeat in straight sets to advance to the second round, making it her first victory since her return.<ref name="return">{{cite web|title=Sharapova soars past Vinci in Stuttgart opener.|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/maria-sharapova-soars-past-roberta-vinci-stuttgart-opener-porsche-tennis-grand-prix|publisher=WTA|access-date=26 April 2017|date=26 April 2017}}</ref> In her on-court interview Sharapova said, "The first few seconds before you enter the arena – it's been a stage of mine since I was a young girl – I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."<ref name="return"/> She followed it up with another straight sets victory over Ekaterina Makarova in the second round. In the quarterfinals, she defeated qualifier ] in straight sets, before losing to ] in the semifinals.


Sharapova then took part in the ] where she beat ] in three sets. Sharapova played a second round encounter with Eugenie Bouchard which after three sets Sharapova lost.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/05/08/maria-sharapova-vs-eugenie-bouchard-live/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/05/08/maria-sharapova-vs-eugenie-bouchard-live/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Eugenie Bouchard stuns Maria Sharapova and claims 'a lot of players had privately wished me good luck'|last1=Eccleshare|first1=Charlie|date=8 May 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=21 February 2019|last2=Sport|first2=Telegraph|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the ] opening match she defeated ] in straight sets. In her next match, she again faced the 16th seed Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in a rematch of their encounter in Madrid. At one set apiece, Sharapova needed a medical timeout for her thigh, which ultimately forced her to retire in the third set.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-16 |title=Sharapova exits Italian Open with thigh injury |url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19397734/maria-sharapova-exits-italian-open-match-thigh-injury |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224180747/https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19397734/maria-sharapova-exits-italian-open-match-thigh-injury |archive-date=2020-02-24 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Just before the players came on court, French Federation president Bernard Giudicelli announced that Sharapova would not be receiving a wildcard in the main draw or the qualifying draw, preventing her from playing in the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Maria Sharapova: French Open decides against giving former champion a wildcard|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/39932614|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2017|access-date=22 August 2017}}</ref>
- = tournament was either not held or was not a Tier I event at the time it was held.


Sharapova then received a wildcard to play ]. However, the same thigh injury at the ] forced her to withdraw from the entire grass season, including the Wimbledon qualifying rounds. Sharapova was given another wildcard at the ], her first hard court tournament since the ]. Her first round opponent was ], whom she defeated in three sets. The win also pushed Sharapova back inside the top 150. Sharapova withdrew from the next round with a left arm injury. She was set to make a return at the ], where she had received a wildcard, but ultimately withdrew due to a left arm injury. She was set to play the ] as a wildcard but pulled out to be fully fit for the ], which had also granted Sharapova a wildcard entry. She opened the US Open against world No. 2, Simona Halep, and won in three sets, her first US Open win since the ]. In the second round she defeated ], coming from a set down to win in three. In the third round, she played the American wildcard ], an 18-year-old who was making her first main draw appearance in a major. Sharapova defeated the teenager in tight straight sets to advance to the second week of the ]. She was defeated by 16th seed ] in the fourth round.
<sup>1</sup>Doha became a Tier I event in 2008. San Diego and Zurich are no longer Tier I events.


Sharapova received and accepted wildcards to enter the ] and ], both held in China. In her opening match at the China Open, Sharapova once again faced Sevastova, this time prevailing in a three-hour, three-set match. In the second round, Sharapova defeated Ekaterina Makarova, seeing her move back into the top 100 for the first time since before her suspension. In the third round, Sharapova lost to Simona Halep in straight sets, marking her first loss to the Romanian after seven consecutive victories. Sharapova then remained in China for the Tianjin Open, which was her first appearance at the tournament. Sharapova went on to win the tournament, marking her first WTA title since 2015, without dropping a set, including coming back from 1–4 down in the first set and 1–5 down in the second set against 19-year-old ] in the final. The result saw her eventually climb the rankings into the top 60, and she later received another wildcard to enter the ]. Sharapova recorded her first opening round loss since 2013, with a straight-sets loss to eighth seed ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/310137/maria-sharapova|title=Maria Sharapova &#124; Player Stats & More – WTA Official|publisher=Women's Tennis Association}}</ref>
<sup>2</sup>If ITF women's circuit (Hardcourt: 22-4; Clay: 9-1) participation is included, then her overall win-loss record stands at '''282-66'''.


===2018: Return to top 25 and French Open quarterfinal===
==WTA Tour career earnings==
Sharapova began her 2018 season at the ]. She defeated ], ] and ] to advance to the semifinals, where she fell to defending champion ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Siniakova supreme over Sharapova to make second straight Shenzhen final|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/siniakova-supreme-over-sharapova-make-second-straight-shenzhen-final|date=5 January 2018|access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref> Sharapova then returned to the ] for the first time since her suspension, defeating ] and ] in the opening two rounds, before losing to ] in straight sets in the third round.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerber quells Sharapova in battle of former Aussie champs|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/kerber-quells-sharapova-battle-former-aussie-champs|date=20 January 2018|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> Sharapova received a wildcard to enter the ], losing in three sets to ] in the opening round. Sharapova pulled out of the ] due to citing a forearm strain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/02/sharapova-commits-52-unforced-errors-loss-niculescu-doha/72055/|title=Sharapova commits 52 unforced errors in loss to Niculescu in Doha|work=Tennis.com|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> Sharapova played the ] falling in the opening round to ] in straight sets. Sharapova was set to play the ] but withdrew due to a forearm injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/osaka-overcomes-frustrated-sharapova-indian-wells|title=Osaka overcomes 'frustrated' Sharapova in Indian Wells|last=Juzwiak|first=Jason|date=8 March 2018|work=WTA Tennis|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref>
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
! Year !! Majors !! WTA wins !! Total wins !! Earnings ($) !! Money list rank
|-
|align="center"|2003
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|align="right"|
|align="center"|


Sharapova started her clay court season at the ]. Sharapova faced sixth seed ] in the opening round but lost in three tight sets. This was her fourth consecutive loss, marking her fall out of the top 50. Sharapova ended her losing streak with a straight sets win over ] at the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/sharapova-snaps-losing-streak-madrid-blasts-past-buzarnescu|title=Sharapova snaps losing streak in Madrid, blasts past Buzarnescu|last=Kane|first=David|date=6 May 2018|work=WTA Tennis|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> Sharapova defeated ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vavel.com/en-us/tennis-usa/2018/05/08/912092-wta-madrid-sharapova-overcomes-huge-scare-storms-past-begu-in-straight-sets.html|title=WTA Madrid: Sharapova overcomes huge scare, storms past Begu in straight sets|last=Han|first=Don|date=8 May 2018|work=VAVEL.com|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> and Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets to advance to quarterfinals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/sharapova-powers-mladenovic-revenge-madrid|title=Sharapova powers to Mladenovic revenge in Madrid|last=Livaudais|first=Stephanie|date=9 May 2018|work=WTA Tennis|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> Sharapova fell to ] in three sets, despite the loss, she climbed back inside the top 40. Sharapova began her ] campaign with a three set win over 16th seed ]. In the second round, Sharapova defeated Dominika Cibulková in three sets,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/bertens-seals-sharapova-madrid-comeback-win|title=Bertens seals Sharapova in Madrid comeback win|last=Kane|first=David|date=10 May 2018|work=WTA Tennis|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> following it up with a straight sets victory over ] in the third round. From a set down, she went on to defeat world No. 5 ] in the quarterfinals. Despite taking the opening set in the semifinals, Sharapova's run in Rome ended with a three set loss to world No. 1, Simona Halep. Despite the loss, her performance improved her ranking inside the top 30 and being seeded for the first time since her suspension at the ]. Sharapova began her ] campaign with a three set win over ] and continued with a straight set win over Croatia's ] in the second round. In the third round, she defeated world No. 6, ] in straight sets to advance to the second week of the French Open. In the fourth round, Sharapova was set to play Serena Williams, but Williams withdrew due to injury, giving Sharapova a walkover into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the ]. Sharapova's run ended with a straight sets loss to world No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals.
|-
|align="center"|2004
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|5
|align="right"|
|align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|


Sharapova was set to play the ] but withdrew to fully recover ahead of ]. Sharapova played two exhibition matches, losing her debut to Greece's ] but defeating ]. Sharapova exited Wimbledon with a three set lost to ] despite being up a set and serving for the match. This marked her worst Grand Slam result since the ] and her first ever opening round loss at Wimbledon. Sharapova was set to play at the ] but withdrew due to a change in her schedule. Sharapova played at the ] and recorded straight sets wins over ] and ]. Sharapova fell in the third round with a straight sets loss to world No. 6, Caroline Garcia. Sharapova was set to play at the ] but withdrew before the tournament started. Sharapova began her ] campaign in the opening round, with a straight set win over ]. Sharapova continued her run with straight set wins over ] and Jeļena Ostapenko. In the fourth round, Sharapova's run ended with a straight sets loss to Carla Suárez Navarro. This marked the first time Sharapova had lost in the night session at ], previously having a 22–0 record. Sharapova ended her season with withdraws at the China Open, Tianjin Open and Kremlin Cup with a right shoulder injury. Sharapova ended the season ranked 29.
|-
|align="center"|2005
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|3
|align="right"|
|align="center" style="background:#F0DC82;"|


===2019: 800th match and more injuries===
|-
]
|align="center"|2006
Sharapova began her 2019 season at the ]. In the opening round, she defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets which was also her 800th career singles match. In the second round, Sharapova defeated ] after Wang retired in the second set. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova lost to ] after she retired in the second set. Sharapova started her ] campaign without the loss of a game in a win over ]. Sharapova followed up with a straight set win over ] and a three set victory over defending champion Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova's run ended with a three set loss to ] in the fourth round. Sharapova recorded her first win in Russia in thirteen years with a straight sets win over ] at the ]. Sharapova withdrew from her second round match against ]. Sharapova was set to play at the ] and ] but withdrew before the tournaments started due to a shoulder injury for which she stated she was to have minor surgery to repair a fraying tendon and a labrum tear.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1449910/sharapova-undergoes-minor-shoulder-procedure-withdraws-from-miami | title=Sharapova undergoes minor shoulder procedure, withdraws from Miami }}</ref> Sharapova later withdrew from the ], ], ] and ] due to not being able to compete at her highest level because of her lingering shoulder injury.
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Sharapova made a return after being away for over four months, in the grasscourt season at the ] where she received a wild card. In the opening round, Sharapova defeated ] in straight sets and recorded her first grasscourt win since 2015. Sharapova's run ended in the second round with a straight sets lost to ].<ref>{{cite web| title=Kerber seals rival Sharapova in Mallorca | url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/kerber-seals-rival-sharapova-mallorca | work=WTA Tennis | date = 20 June 2019 | access-date = 26 June 2019}}</ref> In the opening round at ], Sharapova retired in the third set against ], despite being up a set and a break during the second set. Sharapova lost in the opening round of the ] to ] in three sets. Sharapova ended her three match losing streak with a straight sets win over ] in the opening round of the ]. In the second round, Sharapova was defeated by Ashleigh Barty in straight sets. Sharapova fell in the opening round of the ] to eventual finalist Serena Williams in straight sets, it was also her final match of the year. She ended the year ranked No. 131, her lowest year-end ranking since 2002.
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===2020: Retirement===
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Sharapova began her 2020 season at an exhibition tournament in ], where she defeated ] in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bestsport.news/sharapova-won-tomljanovic-exhibition-tournament-in-abu-dhabi/|title=Sharapova won Tomljanovic exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi|date=20 December 2019|website=Best Sport News|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228170612/https://bestsport.news/sharapova-won-tomljanovic-exhibition-tournament-in-abu-dhabi/|archive-date=28 December 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although she was scheduled to play exhibition at the ] a week later, she pulled out of the tournament because she was unprepared.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/maria-sharapova-announces-sad-news-ahead-of-australian-open-2020/|title=Maria Sharapova Announces Sad News Ahead Of Australian Open 2020|last=Sharma|first=Aryan|date=27 December 2019|website=Essentially Sports|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref> Sharapova received a wildcard at the ] and fell in the opening round to ] in three sets. Sharapova participated at the ], where her opening match against ] was stopped after the second set due to heavy smoke from wildfires, before being defeated by Tomljanović in the second round. As a wildcard at the ], Sharapova was defeated in straight sets by ] in the first round. This marked her third consecutive first-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament and, following the tournament, her ranking fell to no. 369, her lowest ranking since August 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/australian-open-2020-maria-sharapova-vs-donna-vekic-result-return-a9293766.html|title =Maria Sharapova unsure if she will return to Australian Open after first-round defeat by Donna Vekic|date=21 January 2020|work=The Independent|access-date=27 February 2020}}</ref>
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That defeat to Vekic in Melbourne would prove to be Sharapova's final match of her career, as on 26 February 2020, Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis. In an essay in '']'' and '']'', Sharapova wrote: "I'm new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I'm saying goodbye. But as I embark on my next chapter, I want anyone who dreams of excelling in anything to know that doubt and judgement are inevitable. You will fail hundreds of times and the world will watch you. Accept it. Trust yourself. I promise you that you will prevail."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/02/maria-sharapova-steps-away-from-the-game|title=Exclusive: "Tennis—I'm Saying Goodbye." After 28 Years and Five Grand Slams, Maria Sharapova Steps Away From The Game|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=26 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/maria-sharapova-tennis-retirement-announcement|title=Exclusive: "Tennis—I'm Saying Goodbye." After 28 Years and Five Grand Slams, Maria Sharapova Steps Away From the Game|magazine=Vogue|date=26 February 2020}}</ref>
==Notable matches==


==WADA substance controversy==
'''2004 ] final:''' defeated heavily-favored two-time defending champion ] 6-1, 6-4 to become the third youngest woman to win the title at the ] and the lowest seed (at the time) to do so.
{{wikinews|International Tennis Federation bans Sharapova for two years after positive drug test}}
On 7 March 2016, Sharapova revealed that she had failed a ] at the ], which she described as the result of an oversight.<ref name=BBCMar16>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35750285|title=Maria Sharapova failed drugs test at Australian Open|date=7 March 2016|publisher=BBC News Online|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> Sharapova admitted to testing positive for ], an ] drug usually prescribed for heart conditions that was added to the ] (WADA)'s banned substances list on 1 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://swimswam.com/blood-flow-drug-meldonium-added-to-wadas-banned-substances-list/ | title=Blood-Flow Drug Meldonium Added to WADA's Banned Substances List | date=15 October 2015 | access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> Sharapova was provisionally suspended by the ] (ITF) from playing tennis effective from 12 March 2016. She later released a statement regarding the test and explaining her use of the medicine:


<blockquote>I received a letter from the ITF that I failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. I take full responsibility for it. For the past ten years I have been given a medicine called mildronate by my family doctor and a few days ago after I received the ITF letter I found out that it also has another name of meldonium which I did not know. It is very important for you to understand that for ten years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had legally been taking the medicine for the past ten years. But on January 1st the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance which I had not known. I was given this medicine by my doctor for several health issues that I was having in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/maria-sharapova-fails-drug-test-her-statement-in-full-after-testing-positive-for-meldonium-a6917911.html|title=Maria Sharapova fails drug test: Her statement in full after admitting testing positive for meldonium|work=The Independent|date=7 March 2016}}</ref></blockquote>
'''2004 ] final:''' defeated Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Sharapova came back from a 4-0 deficit in the third set and won her first WTA Championships trophy.


Meldonium is not approved for use in the United States, Sharapova's country of residence;<ref name="RFER Kalvins">{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/sharapova-drug-meldonium-mildronate-not-doping-latvian-inventor/27603162.html|title='Sharapova Drug' Is Not Doping, Says Its Latvian Inventor|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=10 March 2016 |publisher=rferl.org|access-date=14 March 2016|last1=Kugel |first1=Maria |last2=Balmforth |first2=Tom }}</ref> however, it is legal to use in Russia, the country that Sharapova represents in tennis.<ref name="wjla">{{cite web | url=http://wjla.com/news/nation-world/sharapova-calls-news-conference-to-make-major-announcement | title=I made a huge mistake | date=7 March 2016 | access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> The drug's inventor ] said that he did not think taking it should be construed as "doping",<ref name="RFER Kalvins"/> but he also said that it "is very popular among athletes" and was used by the Soviet military for "optimizing the use of oxygen" and that it "allows athletes to train under maximum strain".<ref name="RFER Kalvins"/> ], a long-time anti-doping expert and the scientific director of the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) stated that "There's really no evidence that there's any performance enhancement from meldonium – Zero percent."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-18/holmes-when-wada-goes-rogue/7334952|title=When WADA goes rogue: how the anti-doping agency got it wrong|date=18 April 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/04/05/meldonium-experts-wada-performance-enhancing-drug/82663156/|title=Experts say there's little evidence meldonium enhances performance|author=Rachel Axon|work=USA Today|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>
'''2005 ] semifinal:''' defeated by eventual champion Serena Williams 2-6, 7-5, 8-6. Sharapova led 6-2, 5-4 before Williams rallied to win the second set. In the third set, Sharapova again carved out a lead and even held three match points, but Williams battled back once again to win the match.


Sharapova said that she had been taking the drug to treat magnesium deficiency, an irregular EKG and family history of diabetes,<ref name="Reuters sponsors">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/tennis-sharapova-idUSKCN0WA1XU|title=Sponsors back away from Sharapova after failed drug test|date=7 March 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> and indicated that she had not read an email informing her that meldonium had been banned for use in tennis. Meldonium's addition was outlined on a WADA and ] summary document<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/maria-sharapova-drug-bombshell-what-happens-to-tennis-superstar-after-positive-meldonium-test/news-story/dfc1c781281cbc64367832955766c8bc |title=Maria Sharapova drug bombshell: What happens to tennis superstar after positive Meldonium test? |publisher=Foxsports (Australia) |date=9 March 2016 |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usada.org/substances/prohibited-list/major-changes-2016-prohibited-list/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319233235/http://www.usada.org/substances/prohibited-list/major-changes-2016-prohibited-list/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 March 2016 |title=Major Changes – 2016 WADA Prohibited List |publisher=USADA |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> and it has been reported that all tennis players were warned five times that it was due to be banned.<ref name="stuff warnings">{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/tennis/77730102/former-wada-president-dick-pound-rips-maria-sharapova-how-stupid-can-you-be |title=Maria Sharapova has 'no excuses' for missing five warnings about meldonium ban |work=stuff.co.nz |date=12 March 2016 |access-date=11 March 2016}}</ref> On 11 March 2016, Sharapova denied reports about the five missed warnings via ]:
'''2005 ] semifinal:''' defeated by eventual champion ] 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3. Sharapova was down 5-2 in the second set and one game away from defeat but fought back to claim the set. Sharapova wound up saving five match points; however, Clijsters won the match on her sixth match point.


<blockquote>That's a distortion of the actual "communications" which were provided or simply posted onto a webpage. I make no excuses for not knowing about the ban. The other "communications"? They were buried in newsletters, websites, or handouts (many of them technical, in small print). I didn't take the medicine every day. I took it the way my doctor recommended I take it and I took it in the low doses recommended. I'm proud of how I have played the game. I have been honest and upfront. I won't pretend to be injured so I can hide the truth about my testing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/maria-sharapova-denies-missing-warnings-about-meldonium-20160312-gnh8yh.html|title=Maria Sharapova denies missing warnings about meldonium|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=12 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/12/maria-sharapova-denies-warned-five-times-meldonium|title=Maria Sharapova denies reports she was warned five times over meldonium|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 March 2016}}</ref></blockquote>
'''2006 ] semifinal:''' defeated ] 6-3, 6-7(5), 4-3 retired. Sharapova had match points at 6-3, 5-1 but could not convert. The third set was close until Golovin was forced to retire after dramatically twisting her ankle. Some criticized Sharapova for turning her back on Golovin, but a television replay showed Sharapova turning her back before the fall. Sharapova later explained that she thought Golovin had simply cramped. When the Frenchwoman retired and was leaving the court, Sharapova gave her a round of applause along with the crowd to show her appreciation.


Most fellow tennis players reacted to Sharapova's announcement with little support or sympathy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2016/04/05/tennis-world-continues-hate-maria-sharapova/|title=Tennis world shuns Maria Sharapova|work=The New Daily Australia|date=5 April 2016|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11614009|title=Tennis: Why no one likes Maria Sharapova|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=30 March 2016|access-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> ] and ] said they found it hard to believe her.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/sports/tennis/mcenroe-doesnt-believe-sharapova-790798|title=McEnroe doesn't believe Sharapova |work=The Daily Star Bangladesh|date=14 March 2016|access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Cash: I find it hard to believe Sharapova|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03lyp7y|publisher=BBC|date=9 March 2016}}</ref> ] posted on ] that she should be stripped of her professional titles.<ref name="ABC strip">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-08/maria-sharapova-jennifer-capriati-twitter-drug-test/7229972 |title=Maria Sharapova: Jennifer Capriati launches Twitter attack on Russian tennis player after drug test announcement |work=ABC News (Australia) |date=8 March 2016 |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> ] expressed her surprise at the lack of support in tennis for Sharapova, noting that she " always isolated herself from the rest of the tennis world, from the players".<ref>{{cite news|quote=Whether it's shock or whether they don't want to become involved or have an opinion about it. It's sort of surprising that not a lot of players have shown their support for her.|title=Muted response from rivals is because Maria Sharapova has no friends on tour: Evert|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/muted-response-from-rivals-is-because-maria-sharapova-has-no-friends-on-tour-evert/news-story/25942ce807c2b28b0038b11f981bba5d|work=Foxsports|date=10 March 2016|access-date=27 March 2016}}</ref> Serena Williams expressed surprise at Sharapova's announcement but commended her for being "upfront with what she had done".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/09/sports/tennis/serena-williams-says-sharapovas-announcement-surprised-her.html|title=Serena Williams Says Sharapova's Announcement Surprised Her|work=The New York Times|date=8 March 2016|access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref> ], ] and ] all publicly condemned Sharapova and argued that she deserved to be punished on the basis that she failed the doping test,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11603707|title=Nadal: Sharapova should be punished|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=11 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="National Murray">{{cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/tennis/andy-murray-joins-rafael-nadal-in-calls-for-maria-sharapova-to-face-punishment|title=Andy Murray joins Rafael Nadal in calls for Maria Sharapova to face punishment|work=The National|date=11 March 2016|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> with Murray adding that "Taking a drug you don't necessarily need because it's legal is wrong"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/tennis/taking-a-drug-you-dont-necessarily-need-because-its-legal-is-wrong-andy-murray-on-sharapova-ban-34530253.html|title='Taking a drug you don't necessarily need because it's legal is wrong' – Andy Murray on Sharapova ban|work=Irish Independent|date=10 March 2016|access-date=26 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704034709/http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Ftennis%2Ftaking-a-drug-you-dont-necessarily-need-because-its-legal-is-wrong-andy-murray-on-sharapova-ban-34530253.html|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Federer stating that "Whether it's intentional or not, I don't see too much difference. You must be 100 percent about what you are taking".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/06/federer-calls-zero-tolerance-following-news-sharapovas-two-year-ban/58937/#.V2c_BJMrJ0c|title=Federer calls for 'zero tolerance' following news of Sharapova's two-year ban|work=Tennis.com|date=9 June 2016|access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref> Sharapova's case prompted Federer to urge the tennis federation to conduct more anti-doping tests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Sports/2016-03-27/Shocked-Federer-breaks-silence-on-Sharapova-doping-scandal/216707|title=Shocked Federer breaks silence on Sharapova doping scandal|work=The Hans India|date=27 March 2016|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> ] said that he felt sorry for her, but that she must still be ready for punishment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-tennis-no-tears-are-shed-for-maria-sharapova-1457739940|title=In Tennis, No Tears Are Shed for Maria Sharapova|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=11 March 2016|access-date=29 March 2016}}</ref> The ] strongly defended Sharapova, describing the positive drug test as "nonsense" and adding that they expected Sharapova to be available for the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Maria Sharapova provisionally banned from tennis after revealing failed drugs test|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/07/maria-sharapova-failed-drugs-test-australian-open-2016-tennis|work=The Guardian|date=8 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Maria Sharapova to play Fed Cup, ensure Olympic place; no Tokyo 2020?|url = http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2016/02/05/maria-sharapova-fed-cup-doubles-olympics-russia-tennis/|website = OlympicTalk|access-date = 7 February 2016|first = Nick|last = Zaccardi|date = 5 February 2016}}</ref>
'''2006 ] final:''' defeated Clijsters 7-5, 7-5. This was Sharapova's first victory over the Belgian and her first title in San Diego. After this match, Sharapova lost just two more matches during 2006 and claimed three additional titles, including the U.S. Open.


As a result of the failed drug test, ] and ] suspended their relationships with Sharapova, while ] postponed promotional work.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maria Sharapova: Nike suspends contract with Russian over drugs test|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35751916|access-date=8 March 2016|work=BBC|date=8 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=gaur>{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Owen|last2=Cambers|first2=Simon|title=Maria Sharapova under pressure over meldonium use as sponsors flee|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/08/maria-sharapova-meldonium-drug-test-sponsors|access-date=8 March 2016|work=]|date=8 March 2016}}</ref> Racquet manufacturer ] stood by Sharapova, saying, "We look forward to working with her", and announced that they intended to extend their contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Head stand by Maria Sharapova after failed drug test: 'We look forward to working with her'|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/tennis/head-stand-by-maria-sharapova-after-failed-drug-test-we-look-forward-to-working-with-her|work=The National|date=10 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> They also suggested that WADA should prove scientifically why the drug should be banned.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/35785322|title=Maria Sharapova: Head questions Wada's stance on meldonium|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 March 2016}}</ref> The ] suspended Sharapova from her role as a goodwill ambassador on 16 March, while expressing thanks for her support of their work over the previous nine years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roopanarine |first=Les |date=15 March 2016 |title=UN suspends Maria Sharapova as goodwill ambassador |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/mar/15/united-nations-suspends-maria-sharapova-as-goodwill-ambassador |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref>
'''2006 U.S. Open semifinal:''' defeated ], the World No. 1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0. This was the first U.S. Open semifinal with two 6-0 sets.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


On 12 April, WADA intimated that athletes who tested positive for meldonium before 1 March could avoid bans, but the International Tennis Federation said that Sharapova's case would proceed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36045637 |title=Meldonium: Maria Sharapova faces hearing despite new Wada guidance |publisher=BBC News |date=14 April 2016 |access-date=16 April 2016}}</ref> On 8 June, the ITF announced that Sharapova would be suspended for two years. Sharapova indicated she would appeal the ban.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com/tennis/story/maria-sharapova-drug-test-ban-two-years-meldonium-060816 |title=Maria Sharapova banned from tennis for two years for positive drug test |work=FOX Sports |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref>
'''2006 U.S. Open final:''' defeated ] 6-4, 6-4 to win her second ] title. Sharapova beat Henin for only the second time in her career. This was only the eighth time in history that a player beat the world's top two ranked players in a Grand Slam event.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


Following a hearing on 7 and 8 September 2016, the ] (CAS) panel found that Sharapova had a reduced perception of the risk that she took while using Mildronate, because (a) she had used Mildronate for around ten years without any anti-doping issue, (b) she did not mask or hide her use of mildronate and was open about it to many in her entourage (c) she had consulted the Russian doctor who prescribed the Mildronate for medical reasons, not to enhance her performance, and (d) she had received no specific warning about the change in status of meldonium from WADA, the ITF, or the WTA.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/media/243891/243891.pdf|title=CAS 2016/A/4643 Maria Sharapova v. International Tennis Federation|publisher=itftennis.com|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tas-cas.org/en/general-information/news-detail/article/cas-reduces-the-ban-of-maria-sharapova-to-fifteen-months.html|title=CAS reduces the ban of Maria Sharapova to fifteen months|publisher=tas-cas.org|access-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006001501/http://www.tas-cas.org/en/general-information/news-detail/article/cas-reduces-the-ban-of-maria-sharapova-to-fifteen-months.html|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the CAS panel also noted Sharapova's failure to disclose her use of meldonium on her doping control forms and that she was at fault for (a) failing to give her agent adequate instructions as to how to carry out the important task of checking the Prohibited List, and (b) failing to supervise and control the actions of her agent in carrying out that task (specifically the lack of any procedure for reporting or follow-up verification to make sure that her agent had actually discharged his duty).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/news/243888.aspx|title=CAS decision in the case of Maria Sharapova|publisher=ITFTennis.com|access-date=4 October 2016|archive-date=6 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006072110/http://www.itftennis.com/news/243888.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''2007 ] fourth round:''' defeated ] 3-6, 6-4, 9-7. Sharapova came into the tournament with an injury and overcame two match points against her during this match.


<blockquote> Finally, the panel wishes to point out that the case it heard, and the award it renders, is not about an athlete who cheated. It was only about the degree of fault that can be imputed to a player for a player to make sure that a substance contained in a product she had been legally taking over a long period, and for most of the time on the basis of a doctor's prescription, remained in compliance with TADP and WADC. No question of the intent to violate the TADP and WADC was before this panel: under no circumstances therefore, can the Player be considered to be an "intentional doper".<ref name="auto"/></blockquote>
'''2007 WTA Tour Championships final:''' defeated by Henin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. World No. 1 Henin was the pre-match favorite, but Sharapova took the first set on her eighth set point and at one stage in the second set, was a mere five points from victory. The match lasted 3 hours, 24 minutes, making it the 12th longest women's match in the ].{{Fact|date=January 2008}} It was widely agreed as the best women's match of 2007,{{Fact|date=January 2008}} with some citing it as an all-time classic.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}


On 4 October, the CAS reduced the sanction imposed on Sharapova by an Independent Tribunal from 24 months to 15 months.<ref name="WTATennis.com"/> CAS released a statement on its official website stating:<ref name="edition.cnn.com"/>
'''2008 Australian Open quarterfinal:''' defeated Henin 6-4, 6-0. Henin was the World No. 1, but Sharapova won her third victory in nine meetings with Henin. The win snapped Henin's 32-match winning streak and marked the first time Henin had suffered a "]" set since 2002. It also marked the first time since 2005 that Henin had lost in a Grand Slam tournament before the semifinals.


<blockquote>Ms. Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with "no significant fault", she bore some degree of fault, for which a sanction of 15 months is appropriate.</blockquote>
==References==

{{Reflist|2}}
==Fed Cup participation==
Sharapova has lived in the United States since moving there at the age of seven, but retains her Russian citizenship, and is therefore eligible to play in the ] for Russia.<ref name="pravda">{{cite web|url=http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/11-10-2005/9051-sharapova-0/|title=Maria Sharapova unwilling to trade her Russian citizenship for anything|publisher=]|date=11 October 2005|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> However, the behavior of Sharapova's father during her matches on the WTA Tour, combined with a perceived lack of commitment by her to the Fed Cup, made her selection for the ] controversial in the past.

After Sharapova had beaten fellow Russian ] at the ], Myskina criticized Sharapova's father, saying: "He was just yelling and screaming instructions to her and I thought he just might jump right on the court at one point in the match." At the Fed Cup semifinals two weeks later, Myskina stated she would stop playing for Russia if Sharapova joined the Russian team the following season: "If she joins our team next season you won't see me there for sure. His behaviour is totally incorrect, simply rude. I don't want to be around people like him." ], assistant to Russia Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev, added: "Her father's behaviour (at the WTA Tour Championships) was simply outrageous. I just don't see how he could work with the rest of us." However, Tarpishchev himself played down the problem, insisting: "I feel that things will calm down soon and we'll have Myskina, Sharapova, Kuznetsova and everyone else playing for Russia."<ref name="myskina">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4040243.stm|title=Myskina stands by Fed Cup threat|publisher=BBC|date=25 November 2004|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>

At the end of 2005, Sharapova stated she was now keen to make her Fed Cup debut<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4326784.stm|title=Sharapova keen to play for Russia|publisher=BBC|date=10 October 2005|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> and was set to play against Belgium in April 2006, but withdrew.<ref name="sharapovadelays">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4788132.stm|title=Sharapova delays debut for Russia|publisher=BBC|date=8 March 2006|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
She later withdrew from ties against Spain in April 2007<ref name="missfedcup">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6520271.stm|title=Sharapova to miss Fed Cup debut|publisher=BBC|date=2 April 2007|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> and against the United States in July 2007 because of injuries.<ref name="pulloutangers">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6288526.stm|title=Sharapova pull-out angers Russia|publisher=BBC|date=10 July 2007|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> The latter withdrawal led to Russia's captain saying she would be "ineligible for selection" for the Fed Cup final in September.<ref name="forfedcup">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6904802.stm|title=Russia drop Sharapova for Fed Cup|publisher=BBC|date=16 July 2007|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> However, Sharapova attended the final, cheering from the sidelines and acting as a "hitting partner" in practices, resulting in some of her Russian teammates implying that she was attending only to enable her to play at the ] (rules state that players must have "shown commitment" to Fed Cup in order to play). ] said, "She said she wanted to be our practice partner but if you can't play how then can you practice?"<ref name="rowover">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6999113.stm|title=Row over Sharapova's Fed Cup show|publisher=BBC|date=17 September 2007|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>

Sharapova finally made her Fed Cup debut in February 2008, in Russia's quarterfinal tie against ].<ref name="Fedcupdebut" >{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/sharapova-set-to-make-fed-cup-debut/2008/01/22/1200764265448.html|title=Sharapova set to make Fed Cup debut|work=The Age|access-date=4 May 2013|date=23 January 2008}}</ref> She won both her singles rubbers, against ] and ], helping Russia to a 4–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fedcup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100010107|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630213658/http://www.fedcup.com/en/results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100010107|archive-date=30 June 2008|publisher=Fed Cup|title=Fed Cup: Israel vs. Russia tie|date= 2–3 February 2008|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> For the semifinals, she was given permission to skip the tie, with Tarpishchev announcing that she will be on the team for the final.<ref name="theage">{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/sharapova-set-to-make-fed-cup-debut/2008/01/22/1200764265448.html|work=The Age|access-date=6 September 2011|date=23 January 2008|title=Sharapova set to make Fed Cup debut}}</ref> However, the date of the final coincided with the lay-off from her shoulder injury, and thus she did not play.<ref name="theage" />

In the 2011 first-round tie, Sharapova played ] of France and lost. Sharapova was supposed to play ] but she was suffering from a viral illness.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Teammate ] played and defeated Cornet to secure the 3–2 win for Russia against France. Sharapova continued to participate in 2012 and helped Russia to a 3–2 win against Spain in the first-round tie. Sharapova defeated ] in the first rubber, but was unable to play her second rubber due to illness.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} In 2015, Sharapova helped Russia earn a place in the semifinals after beating Pole ] in the first tie and her sister ] in the second tie. Sharapova was scheduled to play the semifinal against ], however, she withdrew days before the competition. She then joined the team for the final against ] and won both of her matches, against ] and ]. Despite the 2 wins by Sharapova, Russia still lost 3–2 after losing the decisive doubles rubber.

==Playing style==
]
Sharapova was an ], whose game was centered on her powerful serve and groundstrokes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/9/15/16297562/maria-sharapova-feud-serena-williams-explained|title=Maria Sharapova's feud with Serena Williams, explained|last1=Abad-Santos|first1=Alex|work=]|date=18 September 2017|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref> She hit her shots with relentless speed, power, and depth, and could generate sharp, acute angles with both her forehand and backhand.<ref name="profile">Jeff Cooper. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208143919/http://tennis.about.com/od/playersfemale/a/sharapovagp.htm |date=8 December 2016 }}, About.com. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> Her aggressive, high-risk playing style meant that she typically generated high numbers of both winners and unforced errors. Sharapova's greatest weapon was her backhand, which was described upon her retirement as "among the best in tennis".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/26/im-saying-goodbye-maria-sharapova-announces-tennis-retirement|title="I'm saying goodbye": Maria Sharapova announces tennis retirement|last1=Mitchell|first1=Kevin|work=]|date=26 February 2020|access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> Her crosscourt backhand was her greatest shot, although she was also adept at hitting her backhand down-the-line, and was able to hit winners with her backhand from any position on the court. Her forehand was also strong, capable of dominating opponents with her flat and powerful shots. She was one of the few players on the WTA Tour who often used the reverse forehand—also known as the 'buggy whip' forehand—a technique that allowed her to hit winners from defensive positions which excelled on fast grass, hard, and carpet courts. It has been speculated, however, that her reliance on this shot may have contributed to her worsening shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/sports/tennis/IHT-26rwtechnic.html|title=The forehand has taken a great leap foreward|work=]|last1=Clarey|first1=Christopher|date=26 June 2006|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> From 2010 onwards, when she returned after shoulder surgery, Sharapova began to hit her forehand with a more conventional swing, with increased amounts of topspin. This alteration allowed her to excel on clay courts, but affected her game on faster hard and grass courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/12922259/how-maria-sharapova-cemented-place-clay-court-specialist|title=How Maria Sharapova cemented her place as a clay-court specialist|publisher=]|last1=McCarvel|first1=Nick|date=20 May 2015|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> Later in her career, Sharapova added both a drop shot and a sliced backhand to her repertoire, making for a more unpredictable playing style. Whilst her drop shot was highly telegraphed, her exceptional execution allowed her to end points, or induce unforced errors from opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ausopen.com/articles/match-report/ruthless-sharapova-powers-second-round|title=Ruthless Sharapova powers into second round|last1=Petkovski|first1=Suzi|work=]|date=14 January 2019|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref><ref>Steve Bierley. , ''The Guardian'', 23 January 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thetennistimes.com/maria-sharapova/|title=Maria Sharapova Scouting report|publisher=Thetennistimes.com|access-date=7 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007231236/http://thetennistimes.com/maria-sharapova/|archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> Sharapova was thought to have good speed around the court, especially considering her height, although her footwork, speed, and court coverage were always considered the major weaknesses in her game. These improved throughout her career, allowing her to execute a more defensive playing style effectively, counterpunching until she could create the opportunity to hit a winner.<ref name="profile"/>

Throughout her career, Sharapova's greatest asset was considered to be her mental toughness and competitive spirit, with Nick Bollettieri stating that she is "tough as nails"; Bollettieri later described her mental strength as "unbelieveable". Hall-of-famer ] said of Sharapova, "she's one of the best competitors in the history of the sport."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/04/1088879371559.html|author=Linda Pearce|work=The Age |title=Sharapova's arrival a victory for mental toughness|date=5 July 2004|access-date=12 June 2010|location=Melbourne}}</ref> Upon her retirement, she was described as "the ultimate competitor", who was set apart from her peers by her mental strength, and was lauded as an "unyielding character".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/27/tennis/maria-sharapova-retirement-legacy-spt-int/index.html|title=Maria Sharapova, the ultimate competitor with a complicated legacy|last1=Lewis|first1=Aimee|publisher=]|date=27 February 2020|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> American player ] described playing Sharapova as "intimidating" due to her mental fortitude, competitive spirit, and composure under pressure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/christina-mchale-tennis-five-toughest-opponents|title=The five toughest players I've ever faced|work=]|last1=McHale|first1=Christina|date=28 July 2016|access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref> Sharapova was known for on-court "]", which reached a recorded 101 ]s during a match at ];<ref name="grunting">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4118708.stm|title=Why do women tennis stars grunt?|author=Megan Lane|publisher=BBC|date=22 June 2005|access-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> Sharapova described her grunting as "a natural instinct."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/06/12/878185.htm|title=Scream queen Sharapova warned to silence screams|newspaper=ABC News|date=12 June 2003|access-date=4 July 2010}}</ref> When questioned by the media about her grunting, Sharapova urged the media to "just watch the match."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4649550.stm|title=Beaten Sharapova turns on media|publisher=BBC|date=26 January 2006|access-date=2 June 2008}}</ref>

===Serve===
Early in her career, Sharapova's first and second serves were regarded as powerful,<ref name="profile"/> and she was believed to possess one of the best deliveries on the WTA Tour.<ref name="Serve1" /> Since the beginning of 2007, however, problems with her shoulder reduced the effectiveness of her serve.<ref name="Serve1">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3046996|author=Joel Drucker|work=ESPN Tennis|title=Lingering injuries or limitations coming to light for Sharapova|date=3 October 2007|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> Her shoulder injury resulted in not only inconsistent first serves, but also led to Sharapova hitting high numbers of double faults.<ref>, Tennis.com. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> Two-time US Open singles champion ] stated that Sharapova often lost confidence in the rest of her game when she experienced problems with her serve, and consequently produced more unforced errors and generally played more tentatively,<ref name="austin">{{cite web|author=Tracy Austin |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25396610/ |title=Austin: Sharapova loss a win for Venus and Serena |work=NBC Sports |date=27 June 2008 |access-date=23 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714023402/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25396610/ |archive-date=14 July 2008 }}</ref> whilst tennis writer Joel Drucker remarked that her serve was the "catalyst for her entire game", and that her struggles with it left her "unmasked."<ref name="Serve1" /> In her return from an injury layoff in 2008 to 2009, she used an abbreviated motion, which, whilst producing aces, was somewhat less powerful, and also gave a very high number of double faults. From 2010, Sharapova returned to a more elongated motion, similar to her pre-surgery serve. She was able to produce speeds greater than before, including a {{convert|121|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} serve hit at the Birmingham tournament in 2010—the fastest serve of her career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/7841792/Wimbledon-2010-Maria-Sharapova-fighting-fit-at-last-and-ready-to-reclaim-her-SW19-crown.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/7841792/Wimbledon-2010-Maria-Sharapova-fighting-fit-at-last-and-ready-to-reclaim-her-SW19-crown.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wimbledon 2010: Maria Sharapova fighting fit at last and ready to reclaim her SW19 crown|author=Mark Hodgkinson|date=21 June 2010|access-date=21 June 2010|work=]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Continuing shoulder injuries affected her serve, and, by the end of her career, her serve was a major liability, with Sharapova serving many double faults per match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.optimumtennis.net/maria-sharapova-serve.htm|title=Maria Sharapova Serve Analysis – A Look Behind the Sharapova Serve Technique|publisher=Optimumtennis.net|access-date=25 January 2012|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216153525/http://www.optimumtennis.net/maria-sharapova-serve.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Net Play===
Instead of using a traditional ] or overhead ], she preferred to hit powerful "swinging" volleys when approaching the net or attacking ].<ref>Douglas Robson. , ''USA Today'', 25 June 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> In her final years, Sharapova began to attack the net more, and showed improved feel when volleying, being able to hit delicate volleys with increased regularity. This tactic was considered by some to compensate for her decreased power at the baseline as a result of her shoulder injury.

===Surfaces===
Because she predicated her game on power and aggression, Sharapova's preferred surfaces early in her career were fast hard, grass, and carpet courts. Sharapova initially was not as well-suited to slower clay courts, admitting in 2007 that she was not as comfortable with her movement on clay compared with other court surfaces and once described herself as like a "cow on ice" on clay due to her inability to slide.<ref name="cow">Barry Flatman. {{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''The Times'', 31 May 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> As her career developed, she began to improve on the surface, winning her first red clay title at the ], with her clay-court prowess culminating to two ] titles. In 2014, she led the WTA Tour with the highest winning percentage on clay among active players, with an 84.25% winning rate.<ref name="tennis.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/04/dont-have-cow/51317/|title=Don't Have a Cow|website=Tennis.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/feat-of-clay-sharapova-found-unexpected-sanctuary-at-roland-garros|title=Feat of Clay: Sharapova found unexpected sanctuary at Roland-Garros|last1=Bodo|first1=Peter|work=]|date=19 April 2020|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref>

==Coaches==
Sharapova had multiple coaches throughout her career. Besides her father Yuri,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/sports/tennis/biggest-distraction-for-sharapova-is-her-father.html|title=Biggest Distraction for Sharapova Is Her Father (Published 2005)|first=Liz|last=Robbins|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 September 2005}}</ref> this included ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/jun/20/wimbledon2005.wimbledon20|title=Man who put the work into Sharapova|date=20 June 2005|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3742834|title=Maria Sharapova has had a long road to becoming tennis royalty-and she's not about to lose her crown|date=20 June 2005|website=ESPN}}</ref> ] in 2004–11,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.costa-del-tennis.com/tennis-interview-coach-michael-joyce/|title=Coach Michael Joyce Interview, A True Ladies Man..|date=19 September 2013}}</ref> ] in 2013,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/mariasharapova/10247183/Maria-Sharapova-dumps-coach-Jimmy-Connors-after-just-one-match-following-Cincinnati-Masters-defeat.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/mariasharapova/10247183/Maria-Sharapova-dumps-coach-Jimmy-Connors-after-just-one-match-following-Cincinnati-Masters-defeat.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Maria Sharapova dumps coach Jimmy Connors after just one match following Cincinnati Masters defeat|website=The Telegraph|date=16 August 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> ] in 2013–18,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/tennis/2013/11/21/maria-sharapova-hires-sven-groeneveld-as-new-coach|title=Maria Sharapova hires Sven Groeneveld as her new coach|first=Courtney|last=Nguyen|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> ] in 2010–13, 2018–19,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/tennis/beyond-baseline/2013/07/12/maria-sharapova-splits-with-coach-thomas-hogstedt-ana-ivanovic-splits-with-nigel-sears|title=Maria Sharapova splits with coach|first=Courtney|last=Nguyen|newspaper=Sports Illustrated |date=11 July 2013 }}</ref> and ] in 2019–20.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/maria-sharapova-is-ready-to-attack-again-coach-riccardo-piatti/|title="Maria Sharapova is Ready To Attack Again"- Coach Riccardo Piatti|website=Essentially Sports|date=11 November 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Relationships===
In 2011, Sharapova was engaged to Slovenian professional basketball player ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/21/maria-sharapova-sasha-vujacic-engaged-proposed-los-angeles-lakers/|title=Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujacic – Engaged|work=TMZ|date=21 October 2010|access-date=21 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823145627/http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/21/maria-sharapova-sasha-vujacic-engaged-proposed-los-angeles-lakers/|archive-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 October 2010 |title=Maria Sharapova betrothed to guard |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5713080 |access-date= |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> with whom she had been in a relationship since 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 November 2009 |title=The Fabulous Forum: Are Sasha Vujacic and Maria Sharapova dating? |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/11/lakers-sasha-vujacic-maria-sharapova-dating.html |access-date= |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> On 31 August 2012, Sharapova confirmed that the pair had ended the engagement and separated earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Lakers G Sasha Vujacic, tennis star Maria Sharapova end engagement|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/former-lakers-g-sasha-vujacic-tennis-star-maria-sharapova-end-engagement/|access-date=18 September 2020|website=CBS Sports|date=31 August 2012 |language=en}}</ref> Between 2012 and 2015, Sharapova dated Bulgarian tennis player ].

Since 2018, Sharapova has been in a relationship with British businessman ].<ref>{{cite web |date=29 December 2019 |title=Who Is Maria Sharapova's Boyfriend, Alexander Gilkes? |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/who-is-maria-sharapova-boyfriend-alexander-gilkes/ |access-date= |publisher=Essentially Sports}}</ref> In December 2020, Sharapova and Gilkes revealed they were engaged.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 December 2020 |title=Maria Sharapova Is Engaged to Prince William's Friend Alexander Gilkes: 'Our Little Secret' |url=https://people.com/sports/maria-sharapova-confirms-engagement-to-prince-williams-friend-alexander-gilkes-our-little-secret/ |website=]}}</ref> On 1 July 2022, she gave birth to a son.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=15 July 2022 |title=Maria Sharapova and Fiancé Alexander Gilkes Welcome Their First Baby: 'Our Little Family' |url=https://people.com/parents/maria-sharapova-and-fiance-alexander-gilkes-welcome-first-baby/ |access-date= |website=] |language=}}</ref>

===Public profile===
Sharapova has lived in the United States since moving there at the age of seven. She has a home in ], Florida, and another in ], California.<ref name="peoplemagazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1183711,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223093250/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C26334%2C1183711%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2008 |title=Celebrity Q & A – Maria Sharapova |work=] |date=17 April 2006 |author=Kathy Ehrich-Dowd }}</ref>
From 2005 to 2011, Sharapova was named to the ], which attempts to compile the top 100 most powerful celebrities of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/maria-sharapova|title=The Celebrity 100|work=]|access-date=28 June 2011}}</ref>
Sharapova made varying remarks on how long she intends to maintain her tennis career. Following the retirement of 25-year-old ] in 2008, Sharapova said, "If I 25, and I'd won so many Grand Slams, I'd quit too."<ref name="henin">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7401565.stm|title=Henin is best of her generation|publisher=BBC|date=15 May 2008|access-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> In an interview after the ], she balked at the idea of playing for another ten years, saying that she hoped to have a "nice husband and a few kids" by then.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22856899/ |title=Billie Jean King's text inspired Sharapova |agency=Associated Press |publisher=] |date=26 January 2008 |access-date=24 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607055611/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22856899/ |archive-date=7 June 2008 }}</ref> However, in an interview before her ] semifinal, Sharapova changed her stance, saying she intended to continue playing tennis for as long as she enjoyed playing the game. Sharapova stated: <blockquote>I'm sure when I was 17 years old and someone said, you'll be playing for another eight years, it would be like, you're not going to see me at a press conference at 25 years old. But years go on. I missed a year in my career—I didn't play that year. I've said this, just before the tournament, a few weeks before, I woke up, and I was just so happy to be going back on the court. I felt so fresh, full of energy, just with a really good perspective. Times change, obviously. I see myself playing this sport for many more years because it's something that gives me the most pleasure in my life. I think it helps when you know you're good at something, and you can always improve it. It obviously helps with the encouragement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportal.com.au/tennis-opinion-display/maria-not-ready-for-veterans-list-158083 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915060011/http://www.sportal.com.au/tennis-opinion-display/maria-not-ready-for-veterans-list-158083 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 September 2012 |title=Maria not ready for veteran's list – Tennis – Sportal Australia |publisher=Sportal.com.au |access-date=11 June 2012 |first=Bren |last=O'Brien at }}</ref></blockquote>

===Politics===
In early March 2022, Sharapova spoke out against the ] and pledged to donate to 'Save the Children' organisation helping Ukrainian children impacted by the war.<ref>{{cite news |title='Heartbroken' Maria Sharapova rejects Russia's invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/heartbroken-maria-sharapova-rejects-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/news-story/08de28a127399a28dcac42ebb52a1ada |work=News.com.au |date=11 March 2022}}</ref>

===Citizenship===
Although a ] since 1994, Sharapova preferred to keep her Russian citizenship: <blockquote>It is about the family environment, it is about the rich culture. Just life experiences that I look back to and I know that for so many years I was shaped into the individual I was from those experiences. And not necessarily simply the country, but the people, the mentality and the toughness and that never giving up attitude.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/23/maria-sharapova-i-wont-trade-russian-citizenship.html |title=Maria Sharapova: I won't trade Russian citizenship |website=CNBC |date=23 March 2015 }}</ref></blockquote>

===Charity work===
The Maria Sharapova Foundation is committed to helping children around the world achieve their dreams. Sharapova has donated $100,000 to Chernobyl-related projects. In partnership with the UNDP, she launched a $210,000 scholarship program for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus that will award five-year scholarships to 12 students at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and the Belarusian State University.<ref>{{cite web|author=www.xperedon.com |url=http://www.chnet.com/4209/maria-sharapova-foundation.html |title=Donate online to Maria Sharapova Foundation |publisher=Chnet.com |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref> At the ], Sharapova, along with several other Russian female tennis players, wore a black ribbon in observance of the tragedy after the ], which took place only days before.<ref name="espn">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/usopen04/news/story?id=1874900|title=Sharapova puts loss in perspective|publisher=]|author=David Boroff|date=6 September 2004|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> In 2005, she donated around US$50,000 to those affected by the crisis.<ref name="wtacareer"/> On 14 February 2007, Sharapova was appointed a ] for the ] (UNDP) and donated US$210,000 to ]. She stated at the time that she was planning to travel back to the area after Wimbledon in 2008,<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2007-08-13-799623401_x.htm|title=Maria Sharapova plans 1st trip back to Chernobyl since family fled|publisher=USAToday|author=Beth Harris|date=13 August 2007|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> though it didn't happen since she had to travel back to the US because of her shoulder injury.<ref name="wimbledon">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629223721/http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2010-06-28/201006281277743223156.html|archive-date=29 June 2010 |url=http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2010-06-28/201006281277743223156.html|title=Interview with Sharapova|publisher=WTA|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> She fulfilled the trip in late June/early July 2010. Sharapova helped to promote the ] in ], Russia,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Joe |title=Maria Sharapova turns on charm to sell Sochi |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2014/02/05/maria-sharapova-sochi-olympics/5220053/}}</ref> and was the first torch bearer in the torch-lighting ceremony during the opening festivities. In addition, Sharapova participated in an exhibition in Tampa in December 2004, raising money for the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/tennis/story/7874647|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615221331/http://www.cbssports.com/tennis/story/7874647|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|title=Capriati, Sharapova to play benefit for hurricane victims|work=CBS Sports|date=10 November 2004|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> In July 2008, Sharapova sent a message on DVD to the memorial service of Emily Bailes, who had performed the coin toss ahead of the ] that Sharapova won.<ref name="bbcnews">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7489565.stm|title=Service held for Wimbledon girl|publisher=BBC|date=4 July 2008|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>

===Autobiography===
Sharapova's autobiography, '']'' was published on 12 September 2017, by ].<ref>, ''Sarah Crichton Books''</ref>

==Endorsements==
] Diamond lineup]]
Sharapova's tennis success and appearance have enabled her to secure commercial endorsements that greatly exceed the value of her tournament winnings.<ref name="marcganis">Marc Ganis, the president of SportsCorp Ltd., a sports-industry consultant in Chicago, said, "Never underestimate the importance of physical beauty to an athlete's endorsement opportunities. Other than performance on the court, it may be the single most important asset." ''The New York Times''. , 7 September 2006</ref><ref name="hbswk">"It does not hurt that Sharapova is regarded as one of the most beautiful athletes in the world." , ] Lessons from the classroom, Sara Jane Gilbert, 29 October 2007. Retrieved on 1 June 2008.</ref> She has been represented by ] agent ] since around 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/sports/tennis/max-eisenbud-maria-sharapovas-agent-builds-her-brand.html|title=Dealmaker for the Shotmakers|last=Lattman|first=Peter|date=26 August 2012|newspaper=]|access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref> In March 2006, Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over US$18&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/03/22/woods-sharapova-nike_cx_lr_0322athletes_2.html|title=The World's Best-Paid Athletes|work=]|date=22 March 2006}}</ref> the majority of which was from endorsements and sponsorships. She topped that list every year until 2016, even after her 2007 shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite web|title = World's Highest-Paid Women Athletes|url =http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/earnings/women-paid.htm|access-date =9 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/07/22/women-athletes-endorsements-biz-sports-cx_tvr_kb_0722athletes.html|title=Top-Earning Female Athletes|work=]|date=22 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/08/18/top-earning-female-athletes-business-sportsmoney-female-athletes.html|title=The World's Highest-Paid Athletes|work=]|date=18 August 2010}}</ref> In 2011, ''Forbes'' listed Sharapova as No. 29 in their list of 50 top-paid athletes, the only woman on the list.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kurt Badenhausen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106040824/http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/05/31/the-worlds-highest-paid-athletes/2/|archive-date=6 November 2012|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/05/31/the-worlds-highest-paid-athletes/ |title=The World's Highest-Paid Athletes|work=] |date=18 April 2012 |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> In 2012, she was listed as No. 15, and was joined in the top 20 by ] at No. 16 and ] at No. 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/06/18/mayweather-tops-list-of-the-worlds-100-highest-paid-athletes/|title=Mayweather Tops List Of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes|work=]|author=Kurt Badenhausen|date=18 June 2012|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> In April 2005, '']'' named her one of the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=PEOPLE's 50 Most Beautiful People |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1046248_1054061,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104001504/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C1046248_1054061%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2007 |date=27 April 2005 |access-date=5 May 2013 }}</ref> In 2006, '']'' ranked Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year. She posed in a six-page bikini photoshoot spread in the 2006 ] issue of the '']'', alongside 25 supermodels.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/swimsuit/coverfeatured/10256/index.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722062431/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/swimsuit/coverfeatured/10256/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2012|title=2006 SWIMSUIT COVER|magazine=]|date=4 September 1995|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> In a poll run by Britain's '']'' magazine, she was voted the ],<ref name="newscomau">{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21300664-10388,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303091807/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0%2C23663%2C21300664-10388%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2007 |work=News.com.au |title=Rod's daughter most eligible |date=28 February 2007 |access-date=4 May 2013 }}</ref> based on both "wealth and looks."

Immediately after her win at the 2004 Wimbledon Championship, mobile phone company ] signed Sharapova to endorse their mobile phone line.<ref name=nytdress/> Additionally, she appeared in commercials for ] and ], as well as approved of namesake items by watch brand ] and jeweller ].<ref name=nytdress/> Tiffany also provides Sharapova with earrings from the "Tiffany for Maria Sharapova" collection at the four major events, that are also retailed globally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.tiffany.com/News/NewsItem.aspx?id=130 |title=Tiffany & Co. For The Press &#124; News &#124; Maria Sharapova to Wear Tiffany Earrings at the 2011 French Open &#124; United States |publisher=Tiffany & Co. |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108004447/http://press.tiffany.com/News/NewsItem.aspx?id=130 |archive-date=8 January 2013 }}</ref> She also starred in an award-winning campaign for the sports clothing brand Nike, "]", in the summer of 2006. She signed a sponsorship deal in January 2007 with ] and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2007/01/Issue-72/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/Pepsico-Inks-Sharapova-To-Promote-Gatorade-Tropicana-Brands.aspx |title=PepsiCo Inks Sharapova To Promote Gatorade, Tropicana Brands |publisher=SportsBusiness Journal |date=3 January 2007 |access-date=10 September 2014 }}</ref> which ended in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/mariasharapova/5163203/Maria-Sharapova-loses-tennis-fizz-as-Pepsi-end-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/mariasharapova/5163203/Maria-Sharapova-loses-tennis-fizz-as-Pepsi-end-deal.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Maria Sharapova loses tennis fizz as Pepsi end deal |work=The Telegraph |date=16 April 2009 |first=Rod |last=Gilmour |access-date=10 September 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2007, Sharapova was featured in a number of Canon USA's commercials for the PowerShot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/14539/maria-sharapova/|title=Maria Sharapova in Canon PowerShot commercial|publisher=LetsGoDigital|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> Sharapova has also been depicted in many tennis-related video games. Some of the titles include the '']'', '']'' series, and '']'' series. During the layoff due to her shoulder surgery, Sharapova decided to focus on developing her name as a brand, beginning with meeting with her sponsors more extensively to further her brand.<ref name=nytdress/> In January 2010, it was announced that Sharapova had renewed her contract with Nike, signing an 8-year deal for $70&nbsp;million—the most lucrative deal ever for a sportswoman.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/12/maria-sharapova-nike-deal|title=Maria Sharapova signs £43m deal with Nike|work=]|author=Simon Cambers|access-date=5 May 2013|date=12 January 2010}}</ref>

Sharapova launched her own tennis apparel line, the Nike Maria Sharapova Collection, in 2010. The collection includes dresses that she designed for all the major tournaments, in collaboration with Nike and ].<ref name=cnn-ms>{{cite web| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/27/sport/tennis/tennis-sharapova-grand-slam-design/index.html | work=CNN | title=Grand slam designs: Maria Sharapova's fashion statement | date=27 January 2012|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> She comes up with design ideas and sketches in a process that begins 18 months before the event<ref name=cnn-ms/> and receives royalties from the sale of the collection, of which the corresponding dresses are coordinated to be available simultaneously with the corresponding major tournament.<ref name=nytdress/> Sharapova had earlier collaborated with Nike on the ] that she wore for her night matches at the 2006 US Open.<ref name=nytdress/> The dress featured a round crystal-studded collar and was inspired by ].<ref name=nytdress>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/fashion/maria-sharapovas-campaign-to-establish-herself-as-a-brand.html?pagewanted=all | work=] | first=Eric | last=Wilson | title=Maria Sharapova's Campaign to Establish Herself as a Brand | date=25 May 2011|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> The dress was well publicized and received but was not mass-produced.<ref name=nytdress/><ref name=cnn-ms/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/sharapovas-little-black-dress-provokes-a-big-racket-at-us-open-448646/ | work=] | first=MacKenzie | last=Carpenter | title=Sharapova's little black dress provokes a big racket at U.S. Open | date=1 September 2006|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> Additionally, she designs shoes and handbags for Cole Haan, for which her signature ballerina flats are one of the biggest sellers of the entire brand.<ref name=nytdress/>

Sharapova used the ] Triple Threat Hornet for part of 2003 and then used several different Prince racquets. She started the 2004 season with the Prince More Attack 920, which she used to win the ]. She gave the racquet to ] when taping '']'', and began using the Prince Turbo Shark MP specially designed for her at the ] until 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/PSHKOS/PSHKOSReview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327130507/http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/PSHKOS/PSHKOSReview.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 March 2008 |title=Prince Shark Racquet Review |access-date=18 June 2012 |publisher=Tennis Warehouse }}</ref> She then switched to the Prince O3 White racquet in January 2006 which helped her capture her second major at the ]. She briefly used the Prince O3 Speedport White at the ], but ultimately switched back to the O3 White, winning her third major at the ]. She then switched to the Prince O3 Speedport Black in July 2008 after returning to the tour from shoulder surgery, then switched to the Prince EXO3 Black 100 in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://princetennis.com/tennis/files/teamPrincePlayer.aspx?plyid=89 |title=Tennis Racquets, Tennis Footwear, String, EXO3 Racquet |publisher=Prince Tennis |access-date=31 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022085350/http://www.princetennis.com/tennis/files/teamPrincePlayer.aspx?plyid=89 |archive-date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> After being with Prince for ten years,<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228161310/http://tennis.com/articles/templates/gear.aspx?articleid=9327&zoneid=24|archive-date=28 December 2010|url=http://tennis.com/articles/templates/gear.aspx?articleid=9327&zoneid=24 |title=Gear – Maria Sharapova's New Head for the New Year? |publisher=TENNIS.com |date=21 December 2010 |access-date=11 June 2012}}</ref> Sharapova began endorsing ] racquets in 2011 and used their Instinct line,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.head.com/tennis/news.php?region=us&id=758|title=Performance meets Style – Maria Sharapova joins the HEAD team!|publisher=Head Tennis|date=3 January 2011|access-date=18 January 2011|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713071147/http://www.head.com/tennis/news.php?region=us&id=758|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/player.html?ccode=SHARAPOVA|title=Maria Sharapova|publisher=Tennis Warehouse|date=18 January 2011|access-date=18 January 2011|archive-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527060103/http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/player.html?ccode=SHARAPOVA|url-status=dead}}</ref> winning the ] in ] and ] until she retired in 2020.

Sharapova signed a three-year deal to be brand ambassador for ] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harley|first=Michael|title=Porsche picks Maria Sharapova as brand ambassador|date=23 April 2013 |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/porsche-picks-maria-sharapova-as-brand-ambassador/|access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref>

==Business ventures==
] at '']'' in ]]]
Sharapova launched her confectionery brand ] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/102169-maria-sharpova-s-sugarpova-fills-a-niche | title=Maria Sharpova's Sugarpova fills a niche &#124; 2012-08-29 &#124; Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery }}</ref> Sugarpova had a reported sales of $20 million in the year 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielshapiro/2020/10/13/the-richest-self-made-women-under-40-including-rihanna-maria-sharapova-and-kylie-jenner/amp/ | title=The Richest Self-Made Women Under 40, Including Rihanna, Maria Sharapova and Kylie Jenner | website=] }}</ref> In 2014, Sharapova invested in sunscreen brand supergoop.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vogue.com/article/maria-sharapova-new-supergoop-sunscreen-co-owner | title=Maria Sharapova on Beauty and Becoming the Co-Owner of Supergoop Sunscreen | date=10 April 2014 }}</ref> It was reported in 2021 that Blackstone had bought a majority stake in Supergoop.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-20/blackstone-growth-buys-sunscreen-brand-supergoop-majority-stake | title=Blackstone Buys Majority Stake in Sunscreen Brand Supergoop | newspaper=Bloomberg | date=20 December 2021 }}</ref>
Sharapova also appeared as a guest shark in the American TV show '']'' in 2020, where she teamed up with ] to invest in wearable wrist and ankle weights company Bala Bangles.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/01/shark-tank-mark-cuban-and-maria-sharapova-invest-in-bangle-weights.html | title='Shark Tank': Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova invested nearly $1 million in a wearable weights company | website=] | date=March 2020 }}</ref> Later in 2020, Sharapova became an investor in wellness brand therabody.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/11/maria-sharapova-invests-in-therabody.html | title=Tennis champion Maria Sharapova invests in tech wellness brand Therabody | website=] | date=11 August 2020 }}</ref> Some other companies Sharapova has invested in include ], Tonal, Public.com, Moonpay, Clio Snacks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2666756-serena-venus-williams-tom-brady-ben-affleck-more-invest-in-ufc | title=Serena, Venus Williams, Tom Brady, Ben Affleck, More Invest in UFC | website=] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/2021/09/18/maria-sharapova-investments-tonal-home-fitness-startup/ | title=Maria Sharapova on why she invested in home fitness startup Tonal }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/06/maria-sharapova-takes-equity-stake-in-investment-platform-publiccom-.html|title=Maria Sharapova takes equity stake in investment platform Public.com|first=Jessica|last=Golden|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-firm-moonpay-raises-87-mln-justin-bieber-maria-sharapova-others-2022-04-13/ | title=Crypto firm MoonPay raises $87 MLN from Justin Bieber, Maria Sharapova, others | newspaper=Reuters | date=13 April 2022 | last1=Mattackal | first1=Lisa Pauline }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/22672-professional-athletes-participate-in-clio-snacks-funding-round | title=Professional athletes participate in Clio Snacks' funding round &#124; Food Business News }}</ref> In April 2022, Sharapova also became a member of the Board of Directors of the fashion brand ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/maria-sharapova-moncler-board-directors-bettina-fetzer-jeanne-jackson-1235164287/ | title=Maria Sharapova, Jeanne Jackson Join Moncler's Board | date=21 April 2022 }}</ref> Sharapova acts as an advisor to brands Naked Retail and Bright.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/sharapova-lands-on-forbes-woman-russia-magazine-s-cover | title=Sharapova lands on Forbes Woman Russia magazine's cover }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bright-raises-15m-live-video-150000376.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADL3VF9lKfZyiDzQq_2Aw6DcDVBv1udBabWsoZIRnN8eTB3CMMK_Zx7sKv2ZERpZWehKzzlRK03EMSu7R66JHTIvAy-977GRk9W1EKCem25KfQy-m2N1cUhWB0A7Vnau4ngqDBvHII25RvSMIHQfNDZK9saPRbKF7Mt-gqAH1qL8 | title=Bright raises $15M for its live video platform that lets you learn from top creators | date=26 August 2021 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{main|Maria Sharapova career statistics}}

===Grand Slam tournament performance timeline===
{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}

{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center;font-size:96%
|-
! Tournament
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! {{Tooltip|SR|Strike rate}}
! {{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}
! Win %
|-
| align=left | '''{{nowrap|]}}'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:thistle" | ]
| style="background:lime" | ''']'''
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:thistle" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:thistle" | ]
| style="background:#ffebcd" | ]
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| 1 / 16
| 57–15
| {{tennis win percentage|won=57|lost=15|integer=yes}}
|-
| align=left | ''']'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#ffebcd" | ]
| style="background:#ffebcd" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#ffebcd" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:lime" | ''']'''
| style="background:thistle" | ]
| style="background:lime" | ''']'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| A
| A
| style="background:#ffebcd" | ]
| A
| A
| 2 / 14
| 56–12
| {{tennis win percentage|won=56|lost=12|integer=yes}}
|-
| align=left | ''']'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:lime" | ''']'''
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:thistle" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| A
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="color:#767676;"|NH
| 1 / 15
| 46–14
| {{tennis win percentage|won=46|lost=14|integer=yes}}
|-
| align=left | ''']'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| style="background:lime" | ''']'''
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:yellow" | ]
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| A
| A
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| style="background:#afeeee" | ]
| A
| 1 / 13
| 38–12
| {{tennis win percentage|won=38|lost=12|integer=yes}}
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:#efefef"
| style=text-align:left | Win–loss
| 4–4
| 15–3
| 19–4
| 20–3
| 16–4
| 11–2
| 7–3
| 8–4
| 16–4
| 21–3
| 12–3
| 16–3
| 14–3
| 4–1
| 3–1
| 8–4
| 3–3
| 0–1
| {{nowrap|5 / 58}}
| {{nowrap|197–53}}
| {{tennis win percentage|won=197|lost=53|integer=yes}}
|}

====Singles finals: 10 (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)====
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Result
! Year
! width=120 | Tournament
! Surface
! width=150 | Opponent
! style="width:200px;" class="unsortable"| Score
|- style="background:#cfc"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–1, 6–4
|- style="background:#ccf"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || ] || Hard || {{flagicon|BEL}} ] || 6–4, 6–4
|- style="background:#ffc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || ] || Hard || {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams || 1–6, 2–6
|- style="background:#ffc"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || Australian Open || Hard || {{flagicon|SRB|2004}} ] || 7–5, 6–3
|- style="background:#cfc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || Wimbledon || Grass || {{flagicon|CZE}} ] || 3–6, 4–6
|- style="background:#ffc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || Australian Open || Hard || {{flagicon|BLR|1995}} ] || 3–6, 0–6
|- style="background:#ebc2af"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || ] || Clay || {{flagicon|ITA}} ] || 6–3, 6–2
|- style="background:#ebc2af"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || French Open || Clay || {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams || 4–6, 4–6
|- style="background:#ebc2af"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || French Open <small>(2)</small> || Clay || {{flagicon|ROU}} ] || 6–4, 6–7<sup>(5–7)</sup>, 6–4
|- style="background:#ffc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || Australian Open || Hard || {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams || 3–6, 6–7<sup>(5–7)</sup>
|}

===WTA Tour Championships===
'''Finals: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)'''

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Result
! Year
! Surface
! width=150 | Opponent
! style="width:200px;" class="unsortable"| Score
|- style="background:#fffcc;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"| Win || ] || Hard || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
|- style="background:#fffcc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || Hard || {{flagicon|BEL}} ] || 7–5, 5–7, 3–6
|- style="background:#fffcc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"| Loss || ] || Hard || {{flagicon|USA}} Serena Williams || 4–6, 3–6
|}

==Awards==
{{See also|WTA Awards}}

{{Div col}}
; 2003
* ] Newcomer of the Year
* Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year<ref name="WTA_Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/scontent/article/3010014/title/wta-awards |publisher=WTA |access-date=29 April 2013 |title=WTA Awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421031247/http://www.wtatennis.com/scontent/article/3010014/title/wta-awards |archive-date=21 April 2013 }}</ref>
; 2004
* WTA Player of the Year<ref name="WTA_Info">{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/9499|publisher=WTA|access-date=29 April 2013|title=Players: Maria Sharapova|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606221849/http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/9499|archive-date=6 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* WTA Most Improved Player of the Year<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
; 2005
* ] Best Female Tennis Player<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* Prix de Citron Roland Garros<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orange-citron.org/2005/communiques.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113030513/http://www.orange-citron.org/2005/communiques.php|archive-date=13 November 2008|publisher=Prix Orange|language=fr|access-date=6 September 2011|title=Communiqués de presse|trans-title=Press releases}}</ref>
* Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year
; 2006
* Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year
* Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year<ref name="WTA_Info"/>

; 2007
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* ESPY Best International Female Athlete<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
; 2008
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/espyawrd.shtml#wtennis|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223000325/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/espyawrd.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2002|publisher=Hickok Sports|title=Women's Tennis|access-date=6 September 2011}}</ref>
* Russian Cup Team of the Year (as part of the ])
; 2010
* WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* WTA Humanitarian of the Year<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* WTA Most Fashionable Player (On Court)<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* WTA Most Fashionable Player (Off Court)<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
* WTA Most Dramatic Expression<ref name="WTA_Info"/>
; 2012
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1255849-espy-awards-2012-winners-results-recap-and-top-moments|title=2012 ESPY Awards Winners: Results, Recap and Top Moments|work=Bleacher Report|author=Richard Langford|date=12 July 2012|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
* ] 2nd Class (28 April 2012) – ''for her philanthropic activity''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pravo.gov.ru:8080/page.aspx?13296|script-title=ru:Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 28 April 2012 № 529 "О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации"|publisher=Government of Russia|language=ru|access-date=5 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517012042/http://www.pravo.gov.ru:8080/page.aspx?13296|archive-date=17 May 2012}}</ref>
* ] 1st Class (13 August 2012) – ''for her outstanding contribution to the development of physical cultures and sports at the XXX Olympic Games in 2012 in London (Great Britain)''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graph.document.kremlin.ru/page.aspx?1623257 |script-title=ru:Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 13 августа 2012 года № 1165 "О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации" |publisher=Government of Russia |language=ru |access-date=5 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423171125/http://graph.document.kremlin.ru/page.aspx?1623257 |archive-date=23 April 2013 }}</ref>
* Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year
; 2016
* ] (5 February 2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.championat.com/tennis/news-2371661-mutko-vruchil-sharapovoj-gosudarstvennye-nagrady.html|title=Мутко вручил Шараповой государственные награды|trans-title=Mutko handed in government awards to Sharapova|publisher=Championat.com|date=5 February 2016|access-date=5 February 2016|language=ru}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Film and television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|2016
|'']''
|Herself
|Episode: "Mission to Moscow"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseline.tennis.com/article/59965/sharapova-stars-chelsea-handlers-netflix-show|title=Sharapova teaches Chelsea Handler how to drink on Netflix|work=]|date=15 August 2016|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|''Maria Sharapova: The Point''
|Herself
|Documentary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shape.com/fitness/trends/best-fitness-documentaries-netflix|title=The Most Inspiring Fitness Documentaries On Netflix|work=]|date=28 October 2018|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2018, 2020
|'']''
|Herself
|2 Episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shape.com/fitness/trends/best-fitness-documentaries-netflix|title=Sharapova makes surprise cameo in Billions|work=]|date=29 May 2018|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|'']''
|Herself
|Cameo Appearance<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/17-celeb-cameos-in-oceans-8-you-mightve-missed-including-more-than-one-kardashian-9288935|title=17 Celeb Cameos In 'Ocean's 8' You Might've Missed, Including More Than One Kardashian|work=]|date=7 June 2018|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|'']''
|Herself
|Episode: "Play the Queen"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseline.tennis.com/article/86365/maria-sharapova-jennifer-aniston-morning-show|title=Sharapova makes cameo on The Morning Show|work=]|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|'']''
|Herself
| Guest Shark, Episode #11.13<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Matthew |date=28 February 2020 |title='Shark Tank' recap: Sharks wage weighty battle to partner with Maria Sharapova |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/02/29/shark-tank-recap-guest-maria-sharapova-serves-up-weighty-deal/4896724002/ |access-date=14 March 2020 |website=]}}</ref>
|}


==See also== ==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
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{{div col end}}

==References==
'''General'''
* {{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/9499/title/maria-sharapova|title=Players: Maria Sharapova|publisher=WTA|access-date=19 April 2013}}

'''Specific'''
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons}}
{{commonscat|Maria Sharapova}}
* {{Official website}}
*
* {{WTA}}
* {{wta|id=310137|name=Maria Sharapova}}
* {{ITF profile}}
*
* {{Billie Jean King Cup player}}
*
* {{Wimbledon player}}
*
* {{ESPN Tennis}}
*
* {{Olympedia}}
*
* {{Olympics.com profile}}


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{{Persondata
|NAME = Sharapova, Maria Yuryevna
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Шара́пова; Мари́я Ю́рьевна
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Russian tennis player
|DATE OF BIRTH = ], ]
|PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ], ]
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharapova, Maria}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharapova, Maria}}
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Latest revision as of 16:14, 24 December 2024

Russian former tennis player (born 1987) "Sharapova" redirects here. For other uses, see Sharapov (surname). In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Yuryevna and the family name is Sharapova.

Maria Sharapova
Sharapova in 2024
Full nameMariya Yuryevna Sharapova
Native nameМария Шарапова
Country (sports) Russia
ResidenceFlorida and California, US
Born (1987-04-19) 19 April 1987 (age 37)
Nyagan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Turned pro19 April 2001
Retired26 February 2020
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand), born left-handed
Prize money$38,777,962
Singles
Career record645–171
Career titles36
Highest rankingNo. 1 (22 August 2005)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (2008)
French OpenW (2012, 2014)
WimbledonW (2004)
US OpenW (2006)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsW (2004)
Olympic GamesF (2012)
Doubles
Career record23–17 (57.5%)
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 41 (14 June 2004)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (2003, 2004)
US Open2R (2003)
Mixed doubles
Career record2–1 (66.7%)
Career titles0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US OpenQF (2004)
Team competitions
Fed CupW (2008)
Signature
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Singles

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: Мария Юрьевна Шарапова, romanized: Mariya Yuryevna Sharapova, pronounced [mɐˈrʲijə ʂɐˈrapəvə] ; born 19 April 1987) is a Russian former world No. 1 tennis player. She competed on the WTA Tour from 2001 to 2020 and was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 21 weeks. She is one of ten women to achieve the career Grand Slam. She is also an Olympic medalist, having won silver in women's singles at the 2012 London Olympics. She has been considered as one of the best female tennis players of her generation.

Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on 22 August 2005 at the age of 18, becoming the first Russian woman to top the singles rankings, and last held the position on 8 July 2012. She won five major titles — two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. She won 36 titles in total, including the year-end championships on her debut in 2004. She also won three doubles titles. Although she played under the banner of Russia with the WTA, she has lived in and been a United States permanent resident since 1994.

Sharapova failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, testing positive for meldonium, a substance that had been banned (effective 1 January 2016) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). On 8 June 2016, she was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). On 4 October 2016, the suspension was reduced to 15 months, starting from the date of the failed test, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport found that she had committed "no significant fault" and that she had taken the substance "based on a doctor's recommendation... with good faith belief that it was appropriate and compliant with the relevant rules". She returned to the WTA Tour on 26 April 2017 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has appeared in many advertisements, including those for Nike, Prince, and Canon, and has been the face of several fashion houses, most notably Cole Haan. Since February 2007, she has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, concerned specifically with the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme. In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time and in March 2012 was named one of the "100 Greatest of All Time" by Tennis Channel. According to Forbes, she was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years and earned US$285 million (including prize money) since she turned professional in 2001. In 2018, she launched a new program to mentor women entrepreneurs.

Early life

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova was born on 19 April 1987, in Nyagan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Her parents, Yuri Sharapov and Yelena, are from Gomel, Byelorussian SSR. Concerned about the regional effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, they left their hometown shortly before Maria was born.

Introduction to tennis

In 1990, when Sharapova was three, the family moved to Sochi, Russia. Her father, Yuri, befriended Aleksandr Kafelnikov, whose son Yevgeny would go on to win two Grand Slam singles titles and become Russia's first world No. 1 ranked tennis player. Aleksandr gave Sharapova her first tennis racquet in 1991 when she was four, whereupon she began practicing regularly with her father at a local park. Maria took her first tennis lessons with veteran Russian coach Yuri Yutkin, who was instantly impressed when he saw her play, noting her "exceptional hand-eye coordination".

Start of professional training

In 1993, at the age of six, Sharapova attended a tennis clinic in Moscow run by Martina Navratilova, who recommended professional training with Nick Bollettieri at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Bollettieri had previously trained players such as Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Anna Kournikova. With money tight, Yuri Sharapov borrowed the sum that would enable him and his daughter, neither of whom could speak English, to travel to the United States, which they did in 1994. Visa restrictions prevented Sharapova's mother from joining them for two years. Arriving in Florida with savings of US$700, Sharapova's father took various low-paying jobs to fund her lessons until she was old enough to be admitted to the academy. Initially, she trained with Rick Macci. In 1995, however, she was signed by IMG, which agreed to pay the annual tuition fee of $35,000 for Sharapova to stay at the academy, allowing her to finally enroll at the age of 9.

Tennis career

Junior and early career

Sharapova first hit tennis fame in November 2000, when she won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at the age of just 13. She was then given a special distinction, the Rising Star Award, awarded to players of exceptional promise. Sharapova made her professional debut in 2001 on her 14th birthday on 19 April, and played her first WTA tournament at the Pacific Life Open in 2002, winning a match before losing to Monica Seles. Due to restrictions on how many professional events she could play, Sharapova went to hone her game in junior tournaments, where she reached the finals of the girls' singles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2002. She was the youngest girl ever to reach the final of the Australian Open junior championship at 14 years and 9 months.

Sharapova reached No. 6 in the ITF junior world singles ranking on 21 October 2002. In all, she won three junior singles tournaments and was runner-up at five, including two junior Grand Slam events. Her win–loss record in junior competition was 47–9. Her best results in the Junior Grand Slam tournaments were the finals of the 2002 Australian Open, finals of the 2002 Wimbledon Championships, third round of the 2002 French Open, and second round of the 2001 US Open.

2003: First tournament titles

From 2003, Sharapova played a full season and made a rapid climb into the top 50 by the end of the year. She made her debuts at both the Australian Open and the French Open, but failed to win a match in either. Then, as a wildcard at Wimbledon, she defeated 11th seed Jelena Dokić, her first win over a top-20 player, to reach the fourth round, where she lost in three sets to Svetlana Kuznetsova. By the end of September, Sharapova had already captured her first WTA title at a smaller event, the Japan Open Tennis Championships, before winning her second in her final tournament of the season, the Bell Challenge in Quebec City. To cap off her first full season as a professional, she was awarded the WTA Newcomer of the Year honor.

2004: Wimbledon glory and rise to fame

Main article: 2004 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova was defeated in the third round of the Australian Open by sixth seed Anastasia Myskina. She later reached the semifinals at the Cellular South Cup, where she lost to eventual champion Vera Zvonareva.

During the spring clay-court season, Sharapova entered the top 20 on the WTA world rankings as a result of reaching the third round of the Qatar Telecom German Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, both of which were Tier I events. At the latter event, she defeated a player ranked in the top 10 for the first time with a straight-sets win over world No. 10 and 2004 French Open finalist Elena Dementieva. Later that clay-court season, she went on to make the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the French Open, losing there to Paola Suárez.

Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004

Sharapova won the third title of her career at the Wimbledon warm-up DFS Classic, defeating Tatiana Golovin in the final. Seeded 13th and aged 17 at Wimbledon, she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Ai Sugiyama. There, she defeated fifth seed and former champion Lindsay Davenport. In the final, Sharapova upset top seed and defending champion Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam singles title, and become the third-youngest woman to win the Wimbledon title, behind only Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis. Sharapova also became the second Russian woman (after Anastasia Myskina had won the year's previous major at Roland Garros) to win a Grand Slam singles title. The victory was hailed by the media as "the most stunning upset in memory", with other writers commenting on her arrival as a serious challenger to the Williams' dominance at Wimbledon. She entered the top 10 in the rankings for the first time as a result of the win.

Following her Wimbledon win, attention and interest in Sharapova in the media greatly increased, a rise in popularity dubbed "Maria Mania." She won three of six matches in her preparations for the US Open. At the US Open itself, she reached the third round, before being eliminated by Mary Pierce. In order to regain confidence, Sharapova played and won consecutive titles in Asia in the fall, the Hansol Korea Open Tennis Championships and the Japan Open Tennis Championships.

In October, Sharapova defeated Venus Williams en route to making the final of a Tier I event for the first time at the Zurich Open, losing in the final to Alicia Molik. She then made her debut at the year-ending WTA Tour Championships. There, she won two of her three round-robin matches (including a win over US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova) in order to advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Myskina. In the final, she defeated an injured Serena Williams, after trailing 4–0 in the final set.

2005: World No. 1

Main article: 2005 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova started the year at the Australian Open, where she defeated fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the second Grand Slam semifinal of her career. Sharapova held three match points in the third set of her semifinal match, before losing to eventual champion Serena Williams. In February, Sharapova won back-to-back tournaments, the Toray Pan Pacific Open and the Qatar Total Open, allowing her to reach number 3 in the world rankings for the first time.

In the semifinals of the Tier I Pacific Life Open, Sharapova was defeated by Lindsay Davenport, the first time she had failed to win a game in a match. She defeated former world No. 1 players Justine Henin and Venus Williams to reach the final at the Tier I NASDAQ-100 Open, where she lost to Kim Clijsters.

Sharapova made the semifinals of a clay-court tournament for the first time at the Italian Open, where she lost to Patty Schnyder. Sharapova would have become world No. 1 for the first time had she won the tournament. Sharapova then reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the second consecutive year, before losing to eventual champion Henin. On grass, Sharapova won her third title of the year when she successfully defended her title at the DFS Classic, defeating Jelena Janković in the final. As the defending champion at Wimbledon, Sharapova reached the semifinals without dropping a set and losing a service game just once, extending her winning streak on grass to 24 matches. However, she was then beaten by eventual champion Venus Williams.

Sharapova had far fewer points to defend, and so she became the first Asian and Russian woman to hold the world No. 1 ranking on 22 August 2005. Her reign lasted only one week, however, as Davenport reclaimed the top ranking after winning the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament.

As the top seed at the US Open, Sharapova lost in the semifinals to Kim Clijsters, meaning she had lost to the eventual champion in every Grand Slam of the season. However, she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the world No. 1 ranking on 12 September 2005. She retained it for six weeks, but after playing few tournaments while injured, she again relinquished the ranking to Davenport.

2006: US Open champion

Main article: 2006 Maria Sharapova tennis season
Sharapova celebrating after winning the 2006 US Open

Sharapova started 2006 by losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open in three sets to Henin, also losing a rematch several weeks later at the Dubai Tennis Championships, having defeated former world No. 1 Martina Hingis and world No. 3 Lindsay Davenport in earlier rounds of the tournament. Sharapova claimed her first title in nine months at the Tier I tournament in Indian Wells, defeating Hingis in the semifinals and Elena Dementieva in the final. She reached the final in Miami before losing to Kuznetsova.

Sharapova returned for the French Open. There, after saving match points in defeating Mashona Washington in the first round, she was eliminated by Dinara Safina in the fourth round. On grass, Sharapova was unsuccessful in her attempt to win in Birmingham for the third consecutive year, losing in the semifinals to Jamea Jackson. Despite that, she was among the title favorites at Wimbledon, where the eventual champion Mauresmo ended up beating her in the semifinals.

Sharapova claimed her second title of the year at the Tier I Acura Classic, defeating Clijsters for the first time in the final. As the third seed at the US Open, Sharapova defeated top seed Mauresmo for the first time in the semifinals, and then followed up by beating second seed Justine Henin to win her second Grand Slam singles title.

That autumn, Sharapova won titles in back-to-back weeks at the Zurich Open and the Generali Ladies Linz. By winning all three of her round-robin matches at the WTA Tour Championships, she extended her win streak to 19 matches, before it was snapped in the semifinals by eventual champion Henin. Sharapova would have finished the season as world No. 1 had she won the event. As it was, she finished ranked world No. 2, her best year-end finish yet.

2007: Return to No. 1, shoulder injury and fall from the Top 5

Sharapova was the top seed at the Australian Open due to top-ranked Justine Henin's withdrawal. After being two points away from defeat in the first round against Camille Pin, she went on to reach the final of the tournament for the first time, but was routed there by Serena Williams who was ranked world No. 81 at the time. After reaching the final, Sharapova recaptured the world No. 1 ranking. She held it for seven weeks, surrendering it back to Henin after failing to defend her title at the Pacific Life Open, instead losing in the fourth round to Vera Zvonareva after struggling with a hamstring injury. The following fortnight, she defeated Venus Williams in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open, before being beaten again by Serena Williams.

A shoulder injury forced Sharapova to miss most of the clay-court season for the second consecutive year, resulting in her only tune-up for the French Open being the İstanbul Cup, where she lost in the semifinals to Aravane Rezaï. She reached the semifinals of the French Open for the first time in her career, before losing to Ana Ivanovic. On grass, Sharapova was runner-up to Jelena Janković at the DFS Classic. Following that, she experienced her earliest Wimbledon loss since 2003 by losing in the fourth round to eventual champion Venus Williams.

Sharapova clinched the US Open Series by defending her title at the Acura Classic, her only championship of the year, and reaching the semifinals in Los Angeles. In her US Open title defense, Sharapova was upset in her third-round match by 30th seed Agnieszka Radwańska, making it her earliest exit at a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 2004 US Open, where she lost in the same round.

Following the US Open loss, Sharapova did not play again until the Kremlin Cup in October, where she lost her opening match to Victoria Azarenka. Shortly after this, she fell out of the top 5 in the world rankings for the first time since 2004. She qualified for the eight-woman year-end Sony Ericsson Championships because of a withdrawal by Venus Williams before the start of the tournament. Despite having not previously won a match in two months, Sharapova topped her round-robin group at the tournament, after winning all three of her matches, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, and Daniela Hantuchová. She then defeated Anna Chakvetadze in the semifinals. In the final, she lost to world No. 1 Henin in a match that lasted 3 hours and 24 minutes. Sharapova reached the top 5 again to end the year.

2008: Australian Open champion, No. 1 and second shoulder injury

Main article: 2008 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova was seeded fifth at the Australian Open, but was not considered a favorite. Nevertheless, she defeated former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the second round, and then world No. 1 Henin in the quarterfinals, ending the latter's 32-match winning streak. She proceeded to the finals by defeating Jelena Janković in the semifinals, and defeated Ana Ivanovic in the final to win her third Grand Slam title, having not dropped a set all tournament.

After the Australian Open, Sharapova extended her winning streak to 18 matches. This run encompassed two wins including at the Tier I Qatar Open. Her winning streak was ended in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open by Kuznetsova. In April, Sharapova won the Bausch & Lomb Championships, having survived her longest-ever match, at 3 hours and 26 minutes long, in the third round against Anabel Medina Garrigues. The following week, at the Family Circle Cup, she lost in the quarterfinals to Serena Williams, her fourth consecutive loss to the American.

In May, Sharapova regained the world No. 1 ranking because of Henin's sudden retirement from professional tennis and request to the WTA that her own ranking be removed immediately. As the top-seeded player at the French Open, Sharapova was within two points of being knocked out by Evgeniya Rodina in the first round, before eventually winning. As a result of losing to eventual finalist Dinara Safina in the fourth round (after serving for the match), she relinquished her No. 1 ranking. Her dip in form continued at Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round to world No. 154 Alla Kudryavtseva. This was her earliest loss at Wimbledon, and at any Grand Slam in almost five years.

Sharapova withdrew from the Rogers Cup tournament in August following a shoulder injury. An MRI scan revealed that she had been suffering from a rotator cuff tear since April, forcing her out of all tournaments for the rest of the season, including the Beijing Olympics, the US Open, and the WTA Tour Championships. In spite of that, she still finished the year ranked world No. 9. In October, after a failed attempt to rehabilitate the shoulder, Sharapova had surgery to repair the tear.

2009–2010: Shoulder surgery, rehabilitation, comeback and struggles with form

Main article: 2009 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova did not attempt to defend her Australian Open title, as she continued to recover from surgery. She returned to the sport in March, in the doubles tournament at the Indian Wells Open, but she and partner Elena Vesnina lost in the first round. After this, Sharapova withdrew from further singles tournaments, resulting in her standing in the world rankings being severely affected. She dropped out of the top 100 for the first time in six years in May, the nadir being world No. 126.

Sharapova made the quarterfinals of the French Open, her best Grand Slam performance of 2009.

Playing her first singles tournament in nearly ten months, Sharapova made the quarterfinals of the clay-court Warsaw Open in May, losing to finalist Alona Bondarenko. The following week, in her first Grand Slam appearance since her surgery, she reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, before her run was ended by Dominika Cibulková.

During the summer grass-court season, Sharapova played in Birmingham, losing in the semifinals to Li Na. Sharapova then played at Wimbledon as the 24th seed. She was upset in the second round by Gisela Dulko in three sets.

Sharapova enjoyed considerable success in the summer months, reaching the quarterfinals at the Bank of the West Classic, the semifinals at the LA Women's Championships, and finishing runner-up at the Rogers Cup to Elena Dementieva. At the US Open, Sharapova was seeded 29th. She found her way into the third round, defeating Tsvetana Pironkova and Christina McHale, all in straight sets. She was stunned in the third round by American teenager Melanie Oudin. It was the second time in Sharapova's career that she lost to a teenager at a Grand Slam tournament, having lost to Agnieszka Radwańska during the same event in 2007. The loss made Sharapova's ranking go down to No. 32.

The final stretch of the season brought Sharapova her first title of the year in Tokyo, after opponent Jelena Janković retired after being down 2–5 to Sharapova in the final. By virtue of that result, she was the recipient of a bye at the China Open, but failed to capitalize on it, losing to Peng Shuai in the third round. She ultimately finished the season at world No. 14, having improved from No. 126 when she started her comeback from injury.

Main article: 2010 Maria Sharapova tennis season

After playing two exhibition tournaments in Asia, Sharapova officially began her season at the Australian Open, where she was upset in her first-round match against Maria Kirilenko. The loss meant that for the first time since 2003, Sharapova had lost her opening match at a Grand Slam event. She then rebounded by winning a smaller American event, the Cellular South Cup, her 21st career WTA title and first of the year.

At the Indian Wells Open, Sharapova lost in the third round to Zheng Jie, aggravating a bruised bone on her right elbow in the process, which resulted in her eventual withdrawal from the Sony Ericsson Open and the Family Circle Cup.

Returning at the Madrid Open, Sharapova lost in the first round to Lucie Šafářová. She continued her French Open preparation at the Internationaux de Strasbourg as a wildcard, advancing to the final, where she beat Kristina Barrois. This was her first title on red clay and 22nd overall title. At the French Open, Sharapova's brief clay season culminated with a third-round loss to four-time champion Justine Henin.

Sharapova began her preparations for Wimbledon at the Aegon Classic. She advanced to the final for the fourth time, where she lost to Li Na. As the 16th seed at Wimbledon, Sharapova lost in the fourth round to world No. 1 and eventual champion Serena Williams, despite having three set points in the opening set. The match was seen as another encouraging performance for Sharapova, with some stating their belief that she was approaching the form that would see her contending for Grand Slams once more, and Sharapova herself stating that she felt that she was "in a much better spot than I was last year."

During the US Open Series, Sharapova made two straight finals, losing to Victoria Azarenka at the Bank of the West Classic, and to Kim Clijsters at the Western & Southern Open. In the latter match, Sharapova held three match points while leading 5–3 on Clijsters's serve late in the second set, but could not convert them. At the US Open, Sharapova was the 14th seed. She made it to the fourth round, where she played top seed and 2009 finalist Caroline Wozniacki and lost.

Sharapova's last two tournaments of the season ended in disappointment. She played in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she was upset in the first round by 39-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm. Her last tournament of the year was the China Open, where she lost in the second round to fellow Russian Elena Vesnina. She ended the year at number 18 in the world.

2011: Return to the top 10

It was announced that Sharapova would bring in Thomas Högstedt as a coach for the 2011 season, joining Michael Joyce. On 5 December, Sharapova won an exhibition match against world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva in Monterrey, Mexico. In Sharapova's first official Australian Open warm-up tournament at the Auckland Open, she was top-seeded. She lost to the Hungarian veteran and eventual champion, Gréta Arn, in the quarterfinals. After that, Sharapova decided to split up with Joyce, ending a successful cooperation that brought her two Grand Slam victories and the world No. 1 ranking.

Sharapova participated in the first Grand Slam of the season at the Australian Open, where she was the 14th seed, but lost to Andrea Petkovic in the fourth round. She also had to pull out of the Dubai Championships and the Qatar Open because of an ear infection. Sharapova returned to the tour in March by taking part in the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, where she was seeded 16th. She defeated former world No. 1, Dinara Safina, in the fourth round en route to the semifinal, where she lost to world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki. At Key Biscayne, Sharapova defeated 26th seed Alexandra Dulgheru in the quarterfinals, in a match lasting 3 hours and 28 minutes. In the semifinals, Sharapova took her Australian Open reprisal on Andrea Petkovic by defeating her. In the final, she was defeated by Victoria Azarenka, despite a late comeback in the second set. With this result, Sharapova returned to the top 10 for the first time since February 2009.

During the clay-court season, Sharapova participated in the Madrid Open, where she lost to Dominika Cibulková in the third round, and the Italian Open, where she was seeded seventh. She defeated top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals and sixth seed Samantha Stosur in the final to take home the title, marking her biggest clay-court victory to date. At the 2011 French Open, Sharapova was seeded seventh. She defeated French wildcard Caroline Garcia in the second round, despite trailing 3–6, 1–4, before winning the last 11 games of the match. In the quarterfinals, she defeated 15th seed Andrea Petkovic, marking her first Grand Slam semifinal since her comeback from the career-threatening shoulder injury. She then lost to sixth seed and eventual champion, Li Na, in the semifinals, ending her clay season with a win–loss record of 12–2.

At the Wimbledon Championships, Sharapova had not dropped a set entering the final, before losing to eighth seed Petra Kvitová, in straight sets. This marked her first final in over three years at a Grand Slam event. Sharapova started her summer hard-court season at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California. In a highly anticipated match, Sharapova lost to the eventual champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. In her next event at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Sharapova lost to Galina Voskoboeva in the third round, marking her 100th career loss.

Sharapova at the Western & Southern Open, August 2011

Sharapova then contested the Cincinnati Open. As the fourth seed, she received a bye into the second round. On the way to her fourth final of the year, she beat Anastasia Rodionova, 14th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, tenth seed Samantha Stosur, and 2nd seed Vera Zvonareva. In the final, she defeated fellow former world No. 1 Jelena Janković, in 2 hours and 49 minutes, making it the longest WTA tour final of the year. She subsequently moved up to world No. 4, her highest ranking since August 2008 and the highest since her comeback from her shoulder injury.

Sharapova entered the US Open, where she was seeded third. She beat Heather Watson, and Anastasiya Yakimova, to reach the third round. She was then upset by Flavia Pennetta. However, because of the fall of Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva in the rankings, Sharapova climbed to world No. 2. Sharapova's next tournament was the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. As second seed, she received a bye into the second round, where she beat Tamarine Tanasugarn. She then beat 13th seed Julia Görges, before retiring against Petra Kvitová in the quarterfinal, 3–4, after slipping on the baseline, suffering an ankle injury. This also forced her to withdraw from the China Open the following week. Sharapova then flew to Istanbul to prepare for the 2011 WTA Tour Championships, her first time qualifying since 2007. During the WTA Tour Championships, Sharapova withdrew during the round-robin stage after defeats against Samantha Stosur and Li Na, as a result of the ankle injury she had suffered in Tokyo. Sharapova ended the year as No. 4 in the world, her first top-10 finish since 2008 and first top-5 finish since 2007.

2012: Career Grand Slam, back to No. 1 and Olympic silver

Main article: 2012 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova withdrew from the 2012 Brisbane International because of her ongoing ankle injury. Her first tournament of the season was the 2012 Australian Open, where she was seeded fourth. Sharapova advanced to the final, defeating Gisela Dulko, Jamie Hampton, 30th seed Angelique Kerber, 14th seed Sabine Lisicki, compatriot Ekaterina Makarova and world No. 2, Petra Kvitová. In a match that decided who would become the new world No. 1, she lost to Victoria Azarenka, in straight sets. As a result, her ranking improved to world No. 3 behind Azarenka and Kvitová. She then played in the Open GDF Suez in Paris, where she lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Angelique Kerber. As a result, her ranking improved to world No. 2.

Sharapova at the 2012 Summer Olympics, July 2012

At the Indian Wells Open, after battling for over three hours, Sharapova defeated compatriot Maria Kirilenko to set up a semifinal meeting with Ana Ivanovic. Sharapova advanced to the final after Ivanovic retired due to a hip injury. In the final, she played world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in a rematch of the Australian Open final, but lost again in straight sets. Sharapova's next tournament was the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open, where she was seeded 2nd and received a bye. In the final, Sharapova lost in straight sets to fifth seed Agnieszka Radwańska. This was her third loss of the year in finals out of four tournaments played so far. In the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Sharapova was seeded second. She had a bye in the first round, and advanced to the third round after Alizé Cornet retired in the second set. She won her first title of the year in Stuttgart after defeating world number one Victoria Azarenka. In doing so, Sharapova defeated three current Grand Slam title holders to win the tournament. Sharapova then played the Madrid Open, a Premier Mandatory event. In the third round, Sharapova's opponent Lucie Šafářová was unable to compete and withdrew from the tournament, earning Sharapova a walkover into the quarterfinals. She was then beaten by eventual champion Serena Williams, in straight sets.

As the defending champion and second seed at the Italian Open, Sharapova had a bye in the first round. In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated Angelique Kerber to advance to the final for the second year in a row. In the final, Sharapova saved match point for a 2-hour 52-minute win over Li Na for her 26th career title. This marked the fourth time Sharapova had successfully defended a title.

Sharapova was seeded second at the French Open, where she defeated Alexandra Cadanțu, Ayumi Morita, 28th seed Peng Shuai, Klára Koukalová, Kaia Kanepi and Petra Kvitová on her way to the finals, allowing her to regain the world No. 1 ranking. In the final, she defeated Sara Errani for her fourth career Grand Slam title (her first since 2008) and her first French Open title. Sharapova became only the tenth woman to complete a Career Grand Slam with the French Open victory. During the tournament, Sharapova was asked by the Russian Olympic Committee to bear the flag at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first female Russian athlete to receive this honor.

Sharapova decided not to compete in any of the grass-court warm-up events and instead proceeded straight to the Wimbledon Championships, where she was the top seed at a major event for the first time since the 2008 French Open. She breezed through her first three matches over Anastasia Rodionova, Tsvetana Pironkova and the crafty Hsieh Su-wei, extended her winning streak to 15 matches. However, she was upset in the fourth round in straight sets by the 15th-seeded Sabine Lisicki, whom she beat in the previous year's semifinals. Due to being unable to defend her finalist points from the year before, she relinquished the world No. 1 ranking back to Azarenka.

She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and was seeded third in the singles draw. She easily beat Shahar Pe'er and hometown favorite Laura Robson in straight sets, before avenging her defeat against Lisicki four weeks prior by beating the German in the third round in a tight three-set match. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated fellow former No. 1, Kim Clijsters, to advance to the semifinals, where she faced her compatriot, Maria Kirilenko. Sharapova defeated Kirilenko to reach the Olympic final and guarantee a medal. Facing off against rival Serena Williams, with both players looking for their first Olympic singles gold medal (and a chance to complete a career Golden Slam), Sharapova was thrashed by Williams in what was to be her worst defeat to the American, winning only a single game. Nonetheless, with this performance, Sharapova won an Olympic silver medal and overtook Agnieszka Radwańska as world No. 2.

Sharapova did not compete in any of the summer hard-court warm-up events after the Olympics, pulling out of both Montreal and Cincinnati (where she was the defending champion) due to a stomach virus. Seeded third at the US Open, Sharapova breezed through her first three matches against Melinda Czink, Lourdes Domínguez Lino, and Mallory Burdette, losing a total of just seven games. In the fourth round, compatriot Nadia Petrova took it to a third set and was winning until a rain delay. After the delay, Sharapova came back to win, advancing to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time since she won the tournament in 2006. In the quarterfinals, she faced 11th seed Marion Bartoli, who was 4–0 up before a rain delay, which delayed the match a whole day. Sharapova then came back from a set down to win. In the semifinals, Sharapova lost to world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka despite winning the first set.

Sharapova's next tournament was the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She made it to the quarterfinals, losing to Samantha Stosur. At the China Open she was seeded second. In the finals she was again defeated by Azarenka. Sharapova's next tournament was the year-end championships in Istanbul, where she was seeded second. She defeated Sara Errani, Agnieszka Radwańska, and Samantha Stosur in the round-robin matches. In the semifinals, Sharapova beat Azarenka, bringing their head-to-head meetings to 7–5 in Azarenka's favour. Although Sharapova made it to the final, Azarenka clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking with her two round-robin wins. She lost to Serena Williams for the 9th consecutive time in the final and the third time that year, notching her best score line in three matchups with a 4–6, 3–6 defeat.

2013: Third shoulder injury

Sharapova's first scheduled tournament of the 2013 season was the Brisbane International, where she was seeded second. However, she withdrew from the tournament before it began, citing a collarbone injury. She started her season at the Australian Open seeded second. She defeated Olga Puchkova and Misaki Doi in the first two rounds without losing a game in either match, the first time a player won in back-to-back double bagels at a Grand Slam tournament since the 1985 Australian Open. Sharapova then defeated Venus Williams, Kirsten Flipkens, and Ekaterina Makarova, where in losing nine games, she overtook Monica Seles' record of fewest games dropped heading into a Grand Slam semifinal. She lost to Li Na in the semifinals.

Sharapova at the French Open, May 2013

She reached the semifinals at the Qatar Open, losing to Serena Williams for the 10th straight time in her career. Her next tournament was Indian Wells, where she was seeded second. She received a bye into the second round and successfully reached the final without dropping a set, where she faced 2011 Indian wells champion and former world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki. After an hour and twenty-one minutes, Sharapova won the tournament. This was Sharapova's 28th career title and second at Indian Wells. Her win also made her the No. 2 player in the world behind Serena Williams.

Sharapova then competed at the Sony Open. Once again she reached the final without dropping a set and faced world No. 1, Serena Williams. Maria won the first set. However, Serena won the second and dominated the third set. This was Maria's 11th consecutive loss against Serena.

Next, she played at the indoor clay event in Stuttgart, where she was the defending champion. Her first three matches were long three-setters: she first beat world No. 25, Lucie Šafářová, dropping the second set on a tiebreak, then Ana Ivanovic, then in the semifinals, she won against third seed Angelique Kerber. In the final, in what was her ninth victory against the Chinese out of 14 matches, she beat second seed world No. 5 Li Na in straight sets to win her 29th career title.

A week later, she competed at the Madrid Open, reaching the final, again without dropping a set. She faced Serena Williams for the 15th time, losing for the 12th consecutive time in straight sets.

Next, she played in Rome, where she was seeded second and had a bye in the first round. She beat 16th seed Sloane Stephens in straight sets (with the loss of three games) in the third round, but then did not play her quarterfinal match against seventh seed Sara Errani and retired from the tournament due to a viral illness.

At the French Open, Sharapova reached the final again, beating Azarenka in three sets in the semifinals, but there she lost in straight sets to Serena Williams. At Wimbledon she was comprehensively beaten in the second round by qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito. Sharapova then returned to the tour at the Western & Southern Open, where she lost her opening match to Sloane Stephens in three sets. A week later Sharapova withdrew from the US Open, citing a shoulder injury, which prematurely ended her season.

2014: Comeback and second French Open title

Main article: 2014 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova had not played since August 2013 due to a recurring shoulder injury and made her comeback at the Brisbane International. She advanced to the semifinals where she was beaten in straight sets by Serena Williams. At the Australian Open, Sharapova, ranked third, was knocked out of the tournament in the fourth round by the 20th seed, and eventual finalist, Dominika Cibulková. Sharapova lost the match in three sets. She then participated in Open GdF Suez where she was upset in the semifinals to fellow Russian and eventual tournament winner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in three sets.

In March, playing in the Indian Wells Open, she was beaten by 22-year-old Italian Camila Giorgi in the third round, in three sets. This dropped her ranking to world No. 7. She reached the semifinals in Miami, facing Serena Williams in a rematch of last year's final and lost her 15th consecutive match to Williams. In April, she won the Stuttgart Open, her first title of the year and 30th of her career by defeating Ana Ivanovic in three sets. Stuttgart is the only tournament Sharapova won three times. In May, Sharapova won the Madrid Open, her second title of the year and first in Madrid, defeating Simona Halep in three sets. With nine clay titles, she joined Venus Williams as the third most successful active player on the surface. Sharapova then competed in the Italian Open in Rome, where she made the third round. She lost to Ana Ivanovic in straight sets.

Sharapova was seeded seventh at the French Open and defeated Ksenia Pervak, Tsvetana Pironkova, and Paula Ormaechea in the first three rounds, all in straight sets. In the fourth round, she defeated Samantha Stosur, reeling off nine straight games from a set and 3–4 down. This marked her 14th win in 16 meetings with the Australian. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Garbiñe Muguruza, again coming back from a set down, to reach the semifinals at the French for the fourth consecutive year. In the semifinals, she defeated Eugenie Bouchard, once again coming back from a set down, to reach her third consecutive French Open final. In the final, she defeated Simona Halep in three sets to win her second French Open title and fifth overall Major title. This was the first time since 2001 that a third set was contested in the final. The match took just over three hours and has been described as one of the best women's finals in recent years. At Wimbledon, Sharapova reached the fourth round, where she lost to Angelique Kerber, the ninth seed, in three sets.

Sharapova then played the Rogers Cup in Montreal where she was the fourth seed. She received a first round bye and faced Garbiñe Muguruza in her opener, she won in three sets. In the following round she lost in three sets to Muguruza's compatriot, Carla Suárez Navarro. At the Western & Southern Open, Sharapova was seeded fifth and defeated Madison Keys after having a first round bye. She then went on to defeat Pavlyuchenkova and newly crowned world No. 2, Simona Halep, to reach the last four. She faced Ivanovic again but lost in a roller coaster three-setter despite having two match points. Sharapova then travelled to New York for the US Open where she was the 5th seed. She defeated compatriot Maria Kirilenko and Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru before overcoming 26th seeded German Sabine Lisicki in round 3 to set up a clash with Caroline Wozniacki in the round of 16. Sharapova lost to Wozniacki in three sets.

Sharapova next played the inaugural Wuhan Open where she was seeded fourth. After receiving a first-round bye, she defeated compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets and next faced Timea Bacsinszky. Although Sharapova won their two previous encounters, she was stunned by Timea in two tight sets, thus ending her campaign at the Premier-5 tournament.

The following week, Sharapova played the China Open in Beijing, a Premier Mandatory-level tournament. Reaching the final without dropping a set, Sharapova defeated world No. 9 Ana Ivanovic in the semifinals. In the final, Sharapova met reigning Wimbledon champion and world No. 3, Petra Kvitová. Sharapova won the match in 2 hours 30 minutes, defeating the Czech in three sets. By virtue of the win, Sharapova's ranking rose from No. 4 to No. 2 in the world and she secured herself the second seeding for the WTA year-end Championship. Sharapova closed in on the year-end number-one ranking spot, 467 points behind Williams.

Sharapova was ranked No. 2 heading into the WTA Tour Championships, with a chance of overtaking Serena Williams as world No. 1. She was drawn in the white group, with Kvitová, Radwańska, and Wozniacki. Her first match was a three set loss to Wozniacki. Sharapova also lost her second round robin match to Kvitová in straight sets. She ended the year with a win against Radwańska in three sets, finishing third overall in the White Group. She ended the year as world No. 2, behind Serena Williams.

2015: Fourth Australian Open final

Main article: 2015 Maria Sharapova tennis season

Sharapova kicked off her 2015 season at the Brisbane International where she was top seed and received a bye in the first round. Sharapova defeated Yaroslava Shvedova and Carla Suárez Navarro. In the semifinals, Sharapova faced Elina Svitolina, beating her in straight sets. Reaching the final without dropping a set, Sharapova played an intense match against second seed Ana Ivanovic but came through in three sets. This was Sharapova's tenth win over Ivanovic and by winning her 34th title, it meant that Sharapova had won at least one title every year for 13 consecutive years. Also, it was just her second title in Australia so far, beating Ivanovic both times. Sharapova's next tournament was the Australian Open, where she beat Petra Martić and fellow countrywoman Alexandra Panova (despite having two match points against her) in the first two rounds, before beating Zarina Diyas and Peng Shuai in straight sets. There, she beat seventh-seeded Eugenie Bouchard and Ekaterina Makarova, in straight sets, to make her fourth Australian Open final, where she lost to Serena Williams in straight sets, worsening her record against her to 2–17. In February, following her participation in the Fed Cup, Sharapova played in Acapulco, where she beat Shelby Rogers, Mariana Duque Mariño and Magdaléna Rybáriková to advance the semifinals. Sharapova later withdrew from her match against Caroline Garcia, citing a stomach virus. Next, in Indian Wells, she beat Yanina Wickmayer and Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, before losing to defending champion Flavia Pennetta in the fourth round in three sets. After receiving a bye in the first round of the Miami Open, Sharapova lost in the second round to fellow Russian Daria Gavrilova in straight sets, marking her earliest exit from the tournament since her first appearance in Miami in 2003.

Sharapova began her clay season in Stuttgart where she was the three-time defending champion. After receiving a first-round bye, she lost in the second round to Angelique Kerber in three sets, snapping Sharapova's win streak at the tournament and marking her first-ever loss at the tournament, having won it three times in a row (2012, 2013, & 2014). The loss also snapped a 64 match win streak on clay where Sharapova won the first set and went on to win the match. The last time Sharapova lost a match on clay, after winning the first set was against Dinara Safina in the fourth round at the 2008 French Open. As a result of the loss, Sharapova lost the No. 2 ranking to Simona Halep. Sharapova's next clay court tournament was the Madrid Open, where she was the defending champion. She advanced to the semifinals. There, she was beaten by Svetlana Kuznetsova for the first time since 2008. Sharapova's next tournament was the Italian Open in Rome where she was seeded third. She beat Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals in straight sets to set up a rematch with Daria Gavrilova. She beat Gavrilova in straight sets to advance to the final, where she faced Carla Suárez Navarro. After losing the first set, Sharapova managed to claim the next two sets and her third Rome title. By winning Rome, Sharapova temporarily reclaimed the No. 2 ranking over Halep. Sharapova was seeded fourth at Wimbledon and reached the semifinals, where she lost to Serena Williams (the eventual champion) in straight sets. After Wimbledon, she withdrew from the US Open, citing a knee injury. This caused her to lose the No. 2 ranking to Halep again.

She then received a wildcard into Wuhan Open and received a bye into the second round. However, she retired in her match against Barbora Strýcová in the 3rd set, citing a left forearm injury. She then withdrew from the China Open, where she was the defending champion, to recover in time for the WTA Finals and the Fed Cup final. At the WTA Finals, she was drawn into the red group, alongside Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwańska, and Flavia Pennetta. She then won all three of her round-robin matches and achieved 1st position in her group. Her win over Pennetta also marked the last match of the Italian's career. Sharapova then played the player who finished 2nd in the White Group, Petra Kvitová. She lost the match in straight sets, despite having a 5–1 lead in the second set.

Sharapova then played in the Fed Cup final, winning both of her matches, against Karolína Plíšková and got revenge against Petra Kvitová for her loss in the WTA Finals. However, Russia eventually lost 2–3 after falling in a crucial doubles rubber. The Russian ended the season as the world No. 4, despite not playing the US Open Series and missing most of the Fall Asian Hardcourt season. She had a win–loss record of 39–9 and won two titles, reaching the second week in all of the Grand Slams she played.

2016: More injuries and doping suspension

Sharapova began her 2016 season at the Brisbane International where she was the defending champion. She would have faced Ekaterina Makarova in the first round, but withdrew hours before the match, citing a left forearm injury, and was replaced by Margarita Gasparyan.

Due to Agnieszka Radwańska winning the Shenzhen Open, Sharapova was seeded fifth at the Australian Open. She was drawn to face Nao Hibino in the first round and won in straight sets. She then won her second round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, also in straight sets. Sharapova then lost her first set in the tournament as she defeated Lauren Davis, in three sets. In the fourth round, she then played her first career match against Belinda Bencic and won in two tight sets over two hours of play. Sharapova then faced Serena Williams in the quarterfinal, a repeat of the previous year's final. Although she started the match brightly, she was defeated in straight sets. She failed to defend her finalist points from the previous year and fell to sixth in the rankings after the tournament.

After the Australian Open, Sharapova was nominated by team captain Anastasia Myskina to play the Fed Cup, but she had a forearm injury and was only listed for the doubles match. Russia lost the first three matches and chose Makarova to replace Sharapova for the dead doubles match. In the end, Russia lost 3–1 but by being nominated for the match, Sharapova successfully qualified for the Summer Olympics having played sufficient Fed Cup matches to meet the criteria.

Citing the left forearm injury sustained at the start of the year, Sharapova withdrew from the Qatar Open, and a week before the BNP Paribas Open, she withdrew from that for the same reason.

Following a failed drug test from the 2016 Australian Open, in which she tested positive for meldonium, a substance that had been banned, effective 1 January 2016, by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Sharapova was provisionally suspended from competitive tennis with effect from 12 March. On 8 June she was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has implied that Sharapova was targeted due to the political crisis in Russian-American relations. In October 2016, Sharapova's ban was reduced from 24 months (2 years) to 15 months, starting from 26 January 2016, the date of the drug test she had failed.

2017: Return from suspension, first WTA title in two years

Sharapova returned to the WTA Tour in April 2017. She was given wildcards to compete in the following three WTA tournaments: Women's Stuttgart Open, Madrid Open and Italian Open. She played her first match of her comeback on 26 April at the Porsche Grand Prix, a tournament that she had previously won on three occasions. Her first-round opponent was Italian Roberta Vinci, who she went on to defeat in straight sets to advance to the second round, making it her first victory since her return. In her on-court interview Sharapova said, "The first few seconds before you enter the arena – it's been a stage of mine since I was a young girl – I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." She followed it up with another straight sets victory over Ekaterina Makarova in the second round. In the quarterfinals, she defeated qualifier Anett Kontaveit in straight sets, before losing to Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinals.

Sharapova then took part in the Madrid Open where she beat Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in three sets. Sharapova played a second round encounter with Eugenie Bouchard which after three sets Sharapova lost. In the 2017 Internazionali BNL d'Italia opening match she defeated Christina McHale in straight sets. In her next match, she again faced the 16th seed Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in a rematch of their encounter in Madrid. At one set apiece, Sharapova needed a medical timeout for her thigh, which ultimately forced her to retire in the third set. Just before the players came on court, French Federation president Bernard Giudicelli announced that Sharapova would not be receiving a wildcard in the main draw or the qualifying draw, preventing her from playing in the 2017 French Open.

Sharapova then received a wildcard to play Birmingham Classic. However, the same thigh injury at the Italian Open forced her to withdraw from the entire grass season, including the Wimbledon qualifying rounds. Sharapova was given another wildcard at the Stanford Classic, her first hard court tournament since the 2016 Australian Open. Her first round opponent was Jennifer Brady, whom she defeated in three sets. The win also pushed Sharapova back inside the top 150. Sharapova withdrew from the next round with a left arm injury. She was set to make a return at the Canadian Open, where she had received a wildcard, but ultimately withdrew due to a left arm injury. She was set to play the Cincinnati Open as a wildcard but pulled out to be fully fit for the US Open, which had also granted Sharapova a wildcard entry. She opened the US Open against world No. 2, Simona Halep, and won in three sets, her first US Open win since the 2014 US Open. In the second round she defeated Tímea Babos, coming from a set down to win in three. In the third round, she played the American wildcard Sofia Kenin, an 18-year-old who was making her first main draw appearance in a major. Sharapova defeated the teenager in tight straight sets to advance to the second week of the US Open. She was defeated by 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova in the fourth round.

Sharapova received and accepted wildcards to enter the China Open and Tianjin Open, both held in China. In her opening match at the China Open, Sharapova once again faced Sevastova, this time prevailing in a three-hour, three-set match. In the second round, Sharapova defeated Ekaterina Makarova, seeing her move back into the top 100 for the first time since before her suspension. In the third round, Sharapova lost to Simona Halep in straight sets, marking her first loss to the Romanian after seven consecutive victories. Sharapova then remained in China for the Tianjin Open, which was her first appearance at the tournament. Sharapova went on to win the tournament, marking her first WTA title since 2015, without dropping a set, including coming back from 1–4 down in the first set and 1–5 down in the second set against 19-year-old Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The result saw her eventually climb the rankings into the top 60, and she later received another wildcard to enter the Kremlin Cup. Sharapova recorded her first opening round loss since 2013, with a straight-sets loss to eighth seed Magdaléna Rybáriková.

2018: Return to top 25 and French Open quarterfinal

Sharapova began her 2018 season at the Shenzhen Open. She defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu, Alison Riske and Zarina Diyas to advance to the semifinals, where she fell to defending champion Kateřina Siniaková. Sharapova then returned to the Australian Open for the first time since her suspension, defeating Tatjana Maria and Anastasija Sevastova in the opening two rounds, before losing to Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the third round. Sharapova received a wildcard to enter the Qatar Open, losing in three sets to Monica Niculescu in the opening round. Sharapova pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships due to citing a forearm strain. Sharapova played the Indian Wells Open falling in the opening round to Naomi Osaka in straight sets. Sharapova was set to play the Miami Open but withdrew due to a forearm injury.

Sharapova started her clay court season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Sharapova faced sixth seed Caroline Garcia in the opening round but lost in three tight sets. This was her fourth consecutive loss, marking her fall out of the top 50. Sharapova ended her losing streak with a straight sets win over Mihaela Buzărnescu at the Madrid Open. Sharapova defeated Irina-Camelia Begu, and Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets to advance to quarterfinals. Sharapova fell to Kiki Bertens in three sets, despite the loss, she climbed back inside the top 40. Sharapova began her Italian Open campaign with a three set win over 16th seed Ashleigh Barty. In the second round, Sharapova defeated Dominika Cibulková in three sets, following it up with a straight sets victory over Daria Gavrilova in the third round. From a set down, she went on to defeat world No. 5 Jeļena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals. Despite taking the opening set in the semifinals, Sharapova's run in Rome ended with a three set loss to world No. 1, Simona Halep. Despite the loss, her performance improved her ranking inside the top 30 and being seeded for the first time since her suspension at the 2016 Australian Open. Sharapova began her 2018 French Open campaign with a three set win over Richèl Hogenkamp and continued with a straight set win over Croatia's Donna Vekić in the second round. In the third round, she defeated world No. 6, Karolína Plíšková in straight sets to advance to the second week of the French Open. In the fourth round, Sharapova was set to play Serena Williams, but Williams withdrew due to injury, giving Sharapova a walkover into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2016 Australian Open. Sharapova's run ended with a straight sets loss to world No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals.

Sharapova was set to play the Birmingham Classic but withdrew to fully recover ahead of Wimbledon. Sharapova played two exhibition matches, losing her debut to Greece's Maria Sakkari but defeating Natalia Vikhlyantseva. Sharapova exited Wimbledon with a three set lost to Vitalia Diatchenko despite being up a set and serving for the match. This marked her worst Grand Slam result since the 2010 Australian Open and her first ever opening round loss at Wimbledon. Sharapova was set to play at the Silicon Valley Classic but withdrew due to a change in her schedule. Sharapova played at the Rogers Cup and recorded straight sets wins over Sesil Karatantcheva and Daria Kasatkina. Sharapova fell in the third round with a straight sets loss to world No. 6, Caroline Garcia. Sharapova was set to play at the Western & Southern Open but withdrew before the tournament started. Sharapova began her US Open campaign in the opening round, with a straight set win over Patty Schnyder. Sharapova continued her run with straight set wins over Sorana Cîrstea and Jeļena Ostapenko. In the fourth round, Sharapova's run ended with a straight sets loss to Carla Suárez Navarro. This marked the first time Sharapova had lost in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, previously having a 22–0 record. Sharapova ended her season with withdraws at the China Open, Tianjin Open and Kremlin Cup with a right shoulder injury. Sharapova ended the season ranked 29.

2019: 800th match and more injuries

Sharapova in 2019

Sharapova began her 2019 season at the Shenzhen Open. In the opening round, she defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets which was also her 800th career singles match. In the second round, Sharapova defeated Wang Xinyu after Wang retired in the second set. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova lost to Aryna Sabalenka after she retired in the second set. Sharapova started her Australian Open campaign without the loss of a game in a win over Harriet Dart. Sharapova followed up with a straight set win over Rebecca Peterson and a three set victory over defending champion Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova's run ended with a three set loss to Ashleigh Barty in the fourth round. Sharapova recorded her first win in Russia in thirteen years with a straight sets win over Daria Gavrilova at the 2019 St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy. Sharapova withdrew from her second round match against Daria Kasatkina. Sharapova was set to play at the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open but withdrew before the tournaments started due to a shoulder injury for which she stated she was to have minor surgery to repair a fraying tendon and a labrum tear. Sharapova later withdrew from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Madrid Open, Italian Open and French Open due to not being able to compete at her highest level because of her lingering shoulder injury.

Sharapova made a return after being away for over four months, in the grasscourt season at the Mallorca Open where she received a wild card. In the opening round, Sharapova defeated Viktória Kužmová in straight sets and recorded her first grasscourt win since 2015. Sharapova's run ended in the second round with a straight sets lost to Angelique Kerber. In the opening round at Wimbledon, Sharapova retired in the third set against Pauline Parmentier, despite being up a set and a break during the second set. Sharapova lost in the opening round of the Rogers Cup to Anett Kontaveit in three sets. Sharapova ended her three match losing streak with a straight sets win over Alison Riske in the opening round of the Western & Southern Open. In the second round, Sharapova was defeated by Ashleigh Barty in straight sets. Sharapova fell in the opening round of the US Open to eventual finalist Serena Williams in straight sets, it was also her final match of the year. She ended the year ranked No. 131, her lowest year-end ranking since 2002.

2020: Retirement

Sharapova began her 2020 season at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, where she defeated Ajla Tomljanović in straight sets. Although she was scheduled to play exhibition at the Hawaii Open a week later, she pulled out of the tournament because she was unprepared. Sharapova received a wildcard at the Brisbane International and fell in the opening round to Jennifer Brady in three sets. Sharapova participated at the Kooyong Classic, where her opening match against Laura Siegemund was stopped after the second set due to heavy smoke from wildfires, before being defeated by Tomljanović in the second round. As a wildcard at the 2020 Australian Open, Sharapova was defeated in straight sets by Donna Vekić in the first round. This marked her third consecutive first-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament and, following the tournament, her ranking fell to no. 369, her lowest ranking since August 2002.

That defeat to Vekic in Melbourne would prove to be Sharapova's final match of her career, as on 26 February 2020, Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis. In an essay in Vanity Fair and Vogue, Sharapova wrote: "I'm new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I'm saying goodbye. But as I embark on my next chapter, I want anyone who dreams of excelling in anything to know that doubt and judgement are inevitable. You will fail hundreds of times and the world will watch you. Accept it. Trust yourself. I promise you that you will prevail."

WADA substance controversy

On 7 March 2016, Sharapova revealed that she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, which she described as the result of an oversight. Sharapova admitted to testing positive for meldonium, an anti-ischemic drug usually prescribed for heart conditions that was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s banned substances list on 1 January 2016. Sharapova was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) from playing tennis effective from 12 March 2016. She later released a statement regarding the test and explaining her use of the medicine:

I received a letter from the ITF that I failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. I take full responsibility for it. For the past ten years I have been given a medicine called mildronate by my family doctor and a few days ago after I received the ITF letter I found out that it also has another name of meldonium which I did not know. It is very important for you to understand that for ten years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had legally been taking the medicine for the past ten years. But on January 1st the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance which I had not known. I was given this medicine by my doctor for several health issues that I was having in 2006.

Meldonium is not approved for use in the United States, Sharapova's country of residence; however, it is legal to use in Russia, the country that Sharapova represents in tennis. The drug's inventor Ivars Kalviņš said that he did not think taking it should be construed as "doping", but he also said that it "is very popular among athletes" and was used by the Soviet military for "optimizing the use of oxygen" and that it "allows athletes to train under maximum strain". Don Catlin, a long-time anti-doping expert and the scientific director of the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) stated that "There's really no evidence that there's any performance enhancement from meldonium – Zero percent."

Sharapova said that she had been taking the drug to treat magnesium deficiency, an irregular EKG and family history of diabetes, and indicated that she had not read an email informing her that meldonium had been banned for use in tennis. Meldonium's addition was outlined on a WADA and United States Anti-Doping Agency summary document and it has been reported that all tennis players were warned five times that it was due to be banned. On 11 March 2016, Sharapova denied reports about the five missed warnings via Facebook:

That's a distortion of the actual "communications" which were provided or simply posted onto a webpage. I make no excuses for not knowing about the ban. The other "communications"? They were buried in newsletters, websites, or handouts (many of them technical, in small print). I didn't take the medicine every day. I took it the way my doctor recommended I take it and I took it in the low doses recommended. I'm proud of how I have played the game. I have been honest and upfront. I won't pretend to be injured so I can hide the truth about my testing.

Most fellow tennis players reacted to Sharapova's announcement with little support or sympathy. John McEnroe and Pat Cash said they found it hard to believe her. Jennifer Capriati posted on Twitter that she should be stripped of her professional titles. Chris Evert expressed her surprise at the lack of support in tennis for Sharapova, noting that she " always isolated herself from the rest of the tennis world, from the players". Serena Williams expressed surprise at Sharapova's announcement but commended her for being "upfront with what she had done". Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray all publicly condemned Sharapova and argued that she deserved to be punished on the basis that she failed the doping test, with Murray adding that "Taking a drug you don't necessarily need because it's legal is wrong" and Federer stating that "Whether it's intentional or not, I don't see too much difference. You must be 100 percent about what you are taking". Sharapova's case prompted Federer to urge the tennis federation to conduct more anti-doping tests. Novak Djokovic said that he felt sorry for her, but that she must still be ready for punishment. The Russian Tennis Federation strongly defended Sharapova, describing the positive drug test as "nonsense" and adding that they expected Sharapova to be available for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

As a result of the failed drug test, Nike and TAG Heuer suspended their relationships with Sharapova, while Porsche postponed promotional work. Racquet manufacturer HEAD stood by Sharapova, saying, "We look forward to working with her", and announced that they intended to extend their contract. They also suggested that WADA should prove scientifically why the drug should be banned. The United Nations Development Programme suspended Sharapova from her role as a goodwill ambassador on 16 March, while expressing thanks for her support of their work over the previous nine years.

On 12 April, WADA intimated that athletes who tested positive for meldonium before 1 March could avoid bans, but the International Tennis Federation said that Sharapova's case would proceed. On 8 June, the ITF announced that Sharapova would be suspended for two years. Sharapova indicated she would appeal the ban.

Following a hearing on 7 and 8 September 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel found that Sharapova had a reduced perception of the risk that she took while using Mildronate, because (a) she had used Mildronate for around ten years without any anti-doping issue, (b) she did not mask or hide her use of mildronate and was open about it to many in her entourage (c) she had consulted the Russian doctor who prescribed the Mildronate for medical reasons, not to enhance her performance, and (d) she had received no specific warning about the change in status of meldonium from WADA, the ITF, or the WTA. However, the CAS panel also noted Sharapova's failure to disclose her use of meldonium on her doping control forms and that she was at fault for (a) failing to give her agent adequate instructions as to how to carry out the important task of checking the Prohibited List, and (b) failing to supervise and control the actions of her agent in carrying out that task (specifically the lack of any procedure for reporting or follow-up verification to make sure that her agent had actually discharged his duty).

Finally, the panel wishes to point out that the case it heard, and the award it renders, is not about an athlete who cheated. It was only about the degree of fault that can be imputed to a player for a player to make sure that a substance contained in a product she had been legally taking over a long period, and for most of the time on the basis of a doctor's prescription, remained in compliance with TADP and WADC. No question of the intent to violate the TADP and WADC was before this panel: under no circumstances therefore, can the Player be considered to be an "intentional doper".

On 4 October, the CAS reduced the sanction imposed on Sharapova by an Independent Tribunal from 24 months to 15 months. CAS released a statement on its official website stating:

Ms. Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with "no significant fault", she bore some degree of fault, for which a sanction of 15 months is appropriate.

Fed Cup participation

Sharapova has lived in the United States since moving there at the age of seven, but retains her Russian citizenship, and is therefore eligible to play in the Fed Cup for Russia. However, the behavior of Sharapova's father during her matches on the WTA Tour, combined with a perceived lack of commitment by her to the Fed Cup, made her selection for the Russian Fed Cup team controversial in the past.

After Sharapova had beaten fellow Russian Anastasia Myskina at the 2004 WTA Tour Championships, Myskina criticized Sharapova's father, saying: "He was just yelling and screaming instructions to her and I thought he just might jump right on the court at one point in the match." At the Fed Cup semifinals two weeks later, Myskina stated she would stop playing for Russia if Sharapova joined the Russian team the following season: "If she joins our team next season you won't see me there for sure. His behaviour is totally incorrect, simply rude. I don't want to be around people like him." Larisa Neiland, assistant to Russia Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev, added: "Her father's behaviour (at the WTA Tour Championships) was simply outrageous. I just don't see how he could work with the rest of us." However, Tarpishchev himself played down the problem, insisting: "I feel that things will calm down soon and we'll have Myskina, Sharapova, Kuznetsova and everyone else playing for Russia."

At the end of 2005, Sharapova stated she was now keen to make her Fed Cup debut and was set to play against Belgium in April 2006, but withdrew. She later withdrew from ties against Spain in April 2007 and against the United States in July 2007 because of injuries. The latter withdrawal led to Russia's captain saying she would be "ineligible for selection" for the Fed Cup final in September. However, Sharapova attended the final, cheering from the sidelines and acting as a "hitting partner" in practices, resulting in some of her Russian teammates implying that she was attending only to enable her to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (rules state that players must have "shown commitment" to Fed Cup in order to play). Svetlana Kuznetsova said, "She said she wanted to be our practice partner but if you can't play how then can you practice?"

Sharapova finally made her Fed Cup debut in February 2008, in Russia's quarterfinal tie against Israel. She won both her singles rubbers, against Tzipora Obziler and Shahar Pe'er, helping Russia to a 4–1 victory. For the semifinals, she was given permission to skip the tie, with Tarpishchev announcing that she will be on the team for the final. However, the date of the final coincided with the lay-off from her shoulder injury, and thus she did not play.

In the 2011 first-round tie, Sharapova played Virginie Razzano of France and lost. Sharapova was supposed to play Alizé Cornet but she was suffering from a viral illness. Teammate Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova played and defeated Cornet to secure the 3–2 win for Russia against France. Sharapova continued to participate in 2012 and helped Russia to a 3–2 win against Spain in the first-round tie. Sharapova defeated Sílvia Soler Espinosa in the first rubber, but was unable to play her second rubber due to illness. In 2015, Sharapova helped Russia earn a place in the semifinals after beating Pole Urszula Radwańska in the first tie and her sister Agnieszka Radwańska in the second tie. Sharapova was scheduled to play the semifinal against Germany, however, she withdrew days before the competition. She then joined the team for the final against Czech Republic and won both of her matches, against Petra Kvitová and Karolína Plíšková. Despite the 2 wins by Sharapova, Russia still lost 3–2 after losing the decisive doubles rubber.

Playing style

Sharapova at The Championships, Wimbledon in 2009

Sharapova was an aggressive baseliner, whose game was centered on her powerful serve and groundstrokes. She hit her shots with relentless speed, power, and depth, and could generate sharp, acute angles with both her forehand and backhand. Her aggressive, high-risk playing style meant that she typically generated high numbers of both winners and unforced errors. Sharapova's greatest weapon was her backhand, which was described upon her retirement as "among the best in tennis". Her crosscourt backhand was her greatest shot, although she was also adept at hitting her backhand down-the-line, and was able to hit winners with her backhand from any position on the court. Her forehand was also strong, capable of dominating opponents with her flat and powerful shots. She was one of the few players on the WTA Tour who often used the reverse forehand—also known as the 'buggy whip' forehand—a technique that allowed her to hit winners from defensive positions which excelled on fast grass, hard, and carpet courts. It has been speculated, however, that her reliance on this shot may have contributed to her worsening shoulder injury. From 2010 onwards, when she returned after shoulder surgery, Sharapova began to hit her forehand with a more conventional swing, with increased amounts of topspin. This alteration allowed her to excel on clay courts, but affected her game on faster hard and grass courts. Later in her career, Sharapova added both a drop shot and a sliced backhand to her repertoire, making for a more unpredictable playing style. Whilst her drop shot was highly telegraphed, her exceptional execution allowed her to end points, or induce unforced errors from opponents. Sharapova was thought to have good speed around the court, especially considering her height, although her footwork, speed, and court coverage were always considered the major weaknesses in her game. These improved throughout her career, allowing her to execute a more defensive playing style effectively, counterpunching until she could create the opportunity to hit a winner.

Throughout her career, Sharapova's greatest asset was considered to be her mental toughness and competitive spirit, with Nick Bollettieri stating that she is "tough as nails"; Bollettieri later described her mental strength as "unbelieveable". Hall-of-famer John McEnroe said of Sharapova, "she's one of the best competitors in the history of the sport." Upon her retirement, she was described as "the ultimate competitor", who was set apart from her peers by her mental strength, and was lauded as an "unyielding character". American player Christina McHale described playing Sharapova as "intimidating" due to her mental fortitude, competitive spirit, and composure under pressure. Sharapova was known for on-court "grunting", which reached a recorded 101 decibels during a match at Wimbledon in 2005; Sharapova described her grunting as "a natural instinct." When questioned by the media about her grunting, Sharapova urged the media to "just watch the match."

Serve

Early in her career, Sharapova's first and second serves were regarded as powerful, and she was believed to possess one of the best deliveries on the WTA Tour. Since the beginning of 2007, however, problems with her shoulder reduced the effectiveness of her serve. Her shoulder injury resulted in not only inconsistent first serves, but also led to Sharapova hitting high numbers of double faults. Two-time US Open singles champion Tracy Austin stated that Sharapova often lost confidence in the rest of her game when she experienced problems with her serve, and consequently produced more unforced errors and generally played more tentatively, whilst tennis writer Joel Drucker remarked that her serve was the "catalyst for her entire game", and that her struggles with it left her "unmasked." In her return from an injury layoff in 2008 to 2009, she used an abbreviated motion, which, whilst producing aces, was somewhat less powerful, and also gave a very high number of double faults. From 2010, Sharapova returned to a more elongated motion, similar to her pre-surgery serve. She was able to produce speeds greater than before, including a 121 mph (195 km/h) serve hit at the Birmingham tournament in 2010—the fastest serve of her career. Continuing shoulder injuries affected her serve, and, by the end of her career, her serve was a major liability, with Sharapova serving many double faults per match.

Net Play

Instead of using a traditional volley or overhead smash, she preferred to hit powerful "swinging" volleys when approaching the net or attacking lobs. In her final years, Sharapova began to attack the net more, and showed improved feel when volleying, being able to hit delicate volleys with increased regularity. This tactic was considered by some to compensate for her decreased power at the baseline as a result of her shoulder injury.

Surfaces

Because she predicated her game on power and aggression, Sharapova's preferred surfaces early in her career were fast hard, grass, and carpet courts. Sharapova initially was not as well-suited to slower clay courts, admitting in 2007 that she was not as comfortable with her movement on clay compared with other court surfaces and once described herself as like a "cow on ice" on clay due to her inability to slide. As her career developed, she began to improve on the surface, winning her first red clay title at the 2009 Internationaux de Strasbourg, with her clay-court prowess culminating to two Roland-Garros titles. In 2014, she led the WTA Tour with the highest winning percentage on clay among active players, with an 84.25% winning rate.

Coaches

Sharapova had multiple coaches throughout her career. Besides her father Yuri, this included Robert Lansdorp, Michael Joyce in 2004–11, Jimmy Connors in 2013, Sven Groeneveld in 2013–18, Thomas Högstedt in 2010–13, 2018–19, and Riccardo Piatti in 2019–20.

Personal life

Relationships

In 2011, Sharapova was engaged to Slovenian professional basketball player Sasha Vujačić, with whom she had been in a relationship since 2009. On 31 August 2012, Sharapova confirmed that the pair had ended the engagement and separated earlier that year. Between 2012 and 2015, Sharapova dated Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov.

Since 2018, Sharapova has been in a relationship with British businessman Alexander Gilkes. In December 2020, Sharapova and Gilkes revealed they were engaged. On 1 July 2022, she gave birth to a son.

Public profile

Sharapova has lived in the United States since moving there at the age of seven. She has a home in Bradenton, Florida, and another in Manhattan Beach, California. From 2005 to 2011, Sharapova was named to the Forbes Celebrity 100, which attempts to compile the top 100 most powerful celebrities of that year.

Sharapova made varying remarks on how long she intends to maintain her tennis career. Following the retirement of 25-year-old Justine Henin in 2008, Sharapova said, "If I 25, and I'd won so many Grand Slams, I'd quit too." In an interview after the 2008 Australian Open, she balked at the idea of playing for another ten years, saying that she hoped to have a "nice husband and a few kids" by then. However, in an interview before her 2012 Australian Open semifinal, Sharapova changed her stance, saying she intended to continue playing tennis for as long as she enjoyed playing the game. Sharapova stated:

I'm sure when I was 17 years old and someone said, you'll be playing for another eight years, it would be like, you're not going to see me at a press conference at 25 years old. But years go on. I missed a year in my career—I didn't play that year. I've said this, just before the tournament, a few weeks before, I woke up, and I was just so happy to be going back on the court. I felt so fresh, full of energy, just with a really good perspective. Times change, obviously. I see myself playing this sport for many more years because it's something that gives me the most pleasure in my life. I think it helps when you know you're good at something, and you can always improve it. It obviously helps with the encouragement.

Politics

In early March 2022, Sharapova spoke out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and pledged to donate to 'Save the Children' organisation helping Ukrainian children impacted by the war.

Citizenship

Although a United States resident since 1994, Sharapova preferred to keep her Russian citizenship:

It is about the family environment, it is about the rich culture. Just life experiences that I look back to and I know that for so many years I was shaped into the individual I was from those experiences. And not necessarily simply the country, but the people, the mentality and the toughness and that never giving up attitude.

Charity work

The Maria Sharapova Foundation is committed to helping children around the world achieve their dreams. Sharapova has donated $100,000 to Chernobyl-related projects. In partnership with the UNDP, she launched a $210,000 scholarship program for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus that will award five-year scholarships to 12 students at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and the Belarusian State University. At the 2004 US Open, Sharapova, along with several other Russian female tennis players, wore a black ribbon in observance of the tragedy after the Beslan school hostage crisis, which took place only days before. In 2005, she donated around US$50,000 to those affected by the crisis. On 14 February 2007, Sharapova was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and donated US$210,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects. She stated at the time that she was planning to travel back to the area after Wimbledon in 2008, though it didn't happen since she had to travel back to the US because of her shoulder injury. She fulfilled the trip in late June/early July 2010. Sharapova helped to promote the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and was the first torch bearer in the torch-lighting ceremony during the opening festivities. In addition, Sharapova participated in an exhibition in Tampa in December 2004, raising money for the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund. In July 2008, Sharapova sent a message on DVD to the memorial service of Emily Bailes, who had performed the coin toss ahead of the 2004 Wimbledon final that Sharapova won.

Autobiography

Sharapova's autobiography, Unstoppable. My Life So Far was published on 12 September 2017, by Sarah Crichton Books.

Endorsements

Sharapova at official unveiling of her Canon PowerShot Diamond lineup

Sharapova's tennis success and appearance have enabled her to secure commercial endorsements that greatly exceed the value of her tournament winnings. She has been represented by IMG agent Max Eisenbud since around 1999. In March 2006, Forbes magazine listed her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over US$18 million, the majority of which was from endorsements and sponsorships. She topped that list every year until 2016, even after her 2007 shoulder injury. In 2011, Forbes listed Sharapova as No. 29 in their list of 50 top-paid athletes, the only woman on the list. In 2012, she was listed as No. 15, and was joined in the top 20 by Li Na at No. 16 and Serena Williams at No. 17. In April 2005, People named her one of the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world. In 2006, Maxim ranked Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year. She posed in a six-page bikini photoshoot spread in the 2006 Valentine's Day issue of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, alongside 25 supermodels. In a poll run by Britain's FHM magazine, she was voted the seventh most eligible bachelorette, based on both "wealth and looks."

Immediately after her win at the 2004 Wimbledon Championship, mobile phone company Motorola signed Sharapova to endorse their mobile phone line. Additionally, she appeared in commercials for Land Rover and Canon, as well as approved of namesake items by watch brand Tag Heuer and jeweller Tiffany. Tiffany also provides Sharapova with earrings from the "Tiffany for Maria Sharapova" collection at the four major events, that are also retailed globally. She also starred in an award-winning campaign for the sports clothing brand Nike, "Pretty", in the summer of 2006. She signed a sponsorship deal in January 2007 with Gatorade and Tropicana, which ended in 2009. In 2007, Sharapova was featured in a number of Canon USA's commercials for the PowerShot. Sharapova has also been depicted in many tennis-related video games. Some of the titles include the Top Spin series, Virtua Tennis series, and Grand Slam Tennis series. During the layoff due to her shoulder surgery, Sharapova decided to focus on developing her name as a brand, beginning with meeting with her sponsors more extensively to further her brand. In January 2010, it was announced that Sharapova had renewed her contract with Nike, signing an 8-year deal for $70 million—the most lucrative deal ever for a sportswoman.

Sharapova launched her own tennis apparel line, the Nike Maria Sharapova Collection, in 2010. The collection includes dresses that she designed for all the major tournaments, in collaboration with Nike and Cole Haan. She comes up with design ideas and sketches in a process that begins 18 months before the event and receives royalties from the sale of the collection, of which the corresponding dresses are coordinated to be available simultaneously with the corresponding major tournament. Sharapova had earlier collaborated with Nike on the little black dress that she wore for her night matches at the 2006 US Open. The dress featured a round crystal-studded collar and was inspired by Audrey Hepburn. The dress was well publicized and received but was not mass-produced. Additionally, she designs shoes and handbags for Cole Haan, for which her signature ballerina flats are one of the biggest sellers of the entire brand.

Sharapova used the Prince Triple Threat Hornet for part of 2003 and then used several different Prince racquets. She started the 2004 season with the Prince More Attack 920, which she used to win the 2004 Wimbledon Championships. She gave the racquet to Regis Philbin when taping Live with Regis and Kelly, and began using the Prince Turbo Shark MP specially designed for her at the 2004 US Open until 2005. She then switched to the Prince O3 White racquet in January 2006 which helped her capture her second major at the 2006 US Open. She briefly used the Prince O3 Speedport White at the 2007 Kremlin Cup, but ultimately switched back to the O3 White, winning her third major at the 2008 Australian Open. She then switched to the Prince O3 Speedport Black in July 2008 after returning to the tour from shoulder surgery, then switched to the Prince EXO3 Black 100 in 2010. After being with Prince for ten years, Sharapova began endorsing Head racquets in 2011 and used their Instinct line, winning the French Open in 2012 and 2014 until she retired in 2020.

Sharapova signed a three-year deal to be brand ambassador for Porsche in 2013.

Business ventures

Sharapova with Paddy Cosgrave at Collision 2024 in Toronto

Sharapova launched her confectionery brand Sugarpova in 2012. Sugarpova had a reported sales of $20 million in the year 2019. In 2014, Sharapova invested in sunscreen brand supergoop. It was reported in 2021 that Blackstone had bought a majority stake in Supergoop. Sharapova also appeared as a guest shark in the American TV show Shark Tank in 2020, where she teamed up with Mark Cuban to invest in wearable wrist and ankle weights company Bala Bangles. Later in 2020, Sharapova became an investor in wellness brand therabody. Some other companies Sharapova has invested in include UFC, Tonal, Public.com, Moonpay, Clio Snacks. In April 2022, Sharapova also became a member of the Board of Directors of the fashion brand Moncler. Sharapova acts as an advisor to brands Naked Retail and Bright.

Career statistics

Main article: Maria Sharapova career statistics

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open 1R 3R SF SF F W A 1R 4R F SF 4R F QF A 3R 4R 1R 1 / 16 57–15 79%
French Open 1R QF QF 4R SF 4R QF 3R SF W F W 4R A A QF A A 2 / 14 56–12 82%
Wimbledon 4R W SF SF 4R 2R 2R 4R F 4R 2R 4R SF A A 1R 1R NH 1 / 15 46–14 77%
US Open 2R 3R SF W 3R A 3R 4R 3R SF A 4R A A 4R 4R 1R A 1 / 13 38–12 76%
Win–loss 4–4 15–3 19–4 20–3 16–4 11–2 7–3 8–4 16–4 21–3 12–3 16–3 14–3 4–1 3–1 8–4 3–3 0–1 5 / 58 197–53 79%

Singles finals: 10 (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)

Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 2004 Wimbledon Grass United States Serena Williams 6–1, 6–4
Win 2006 US Open Hard Belgium Justine Henin 6–4, 6–4
Loss 2007 Australian Open Hard United States Serena Williams 1–6, 2–6
Win 2008 Australian Open Hard Serbia Ana Ivanovic 7–5, 6–3
Loss 2011 Wimbledon Grass Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 3–6, 4–6
Loss 2012 Australian Open Hard Belarus Victoria Azarenka 3–6, 0–6
Win 2012 French Open Clay Italy Sara Errani 6–3, 6–2
Loss 2013 French Open Clay United States Serena Williams 4–6, 4–6
Win 2014 French Open (2) Clay Romania Simona Halep 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
Loss 2015 Australian Open Hard United States Serena Williams 3–6, 6–7

WTA Tour Championships

Finals: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)

Result Year Surface Opponent Score
Win 2004 Hard United States Serena Williams 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Loss 2007 Hard Belgium Justine Henin 7–5, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 2012 Hard United States Serena Williams 4–6, 3–6

Awards

See also: WTA Awards
2003
  • Russian Cup Newcomer of the Year
  • Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year
2004
  • WTA Player of the Year
  • WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
2005
  • ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
  • Prix de Citron Roland Garros
  • Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year
2006
  • Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year
  • Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year
2007
  • ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
  • ESPY Best International Female Athlete
2008
  • ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
  • Russian Cup Team of the Year (as part of the Fed Cup team)
2010
  • WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player
  • WTA Humanitarian of the Year
  • WTA Most Fashionable Player (On Court)
  • WTA Most Fashionable Player (Off Court)
  • WTA Most Dramatic Expression
2012
2016

Filmography

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Chelsea Herself Episode: "Mission to Moscow"
2017 Maria Sharapova: The Point Herself Documentary
2018, 2020 Billions Herself 2 Episodes
2018 Ocean's 8 Herself Cameo Appearance
2019 The Morning Show Herself Episode: "Play the Queen"
2020 Shark Tank Herself Guest Shark, Episode #11.13

See also

References

General

Specific

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  349. Wilson, Matthew (28 February 2020). "'Shark Tank' recap: Sharks wage weighty battle to partner with Maria Sharapova". USA Today. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

External links

Maria Sharapova
39 WTA Tour-Level Titles: 36 SGL & 3 DBL
Entourage
Career
Rivalries
Seasons
Year-end No.1
  • Nil
Grand Slam titles
Australian Open
French Open
Wimbledon
US Open
WTA Tour titles
WTA Finals
WTA 1000 &
analogues
Qatar Open
Indian Wells Open
Miami Open
  • Nil
Madrid Open
Italian Open
Canadian Open
  • Nil
San Diego Open → Cincinnati Open
Tokyo Open
Zurich Open & China Open
WTA 500
WTA 250
Other professional titles
4 singles

ITF Tour
 
National representation
Olympics
BJK Cup
Surface —  Hard  Clay Grass Carpet
Category: SGL (Singles), DBL (Doubles)
Maria Sharapova Official WTA Profile
icon Tennis portal
Articles and topics related to Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova (Achievement predecessor & successor)
Sporting positions
Preceded byUnited States Lindsay Davenport
United States Lindsay Davenport
Belgium Justine Henin
Belgium Justine Henin
Belarus Victoria Azarenka 		World No. 1
22 August 2005 – 28 August 2005
12 September 2005 – 23 October 2005
29 January 2007 – 18 March 2007
19 May 2008 – 8 June 2008
11 June 2012 – 8 July 2012 		Succeeded byUnited States Lindsay Davenport
United States Lindsay Davenport
Belgium Justine Henin
Serbia Ana Ivanovic
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
Preceded bySerbia Ana Ivanovic US Open Series Champion
2007 		Succeeded byRussia Dinara Safina
Awards
Preceded byRussia Svetlana Kuznetsova WTA Newcomer of the Year
2003 		Succeeded byFrance Tatiana Golovin
Preceded byRussia Nadia Petrova WTA Most Improved Player
2004 		Succeeded bySerbia and Montenegro Ana Ivanovic
Preceded byBelgium Justine Henin WTA Player of the Year
2004 		Succeeded byBelgium Kim Clijsters
Preceded byUnited States Serena Williams
United States Venus Williams
United States Serena Williams
United States Serena Williams 		ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
2005
2007–2008
2012
2014 		Succeeded byUnited States Venus Williams
United States Serena Williams
United States Serena Williams
United States Serena Williams
Preceded byN/A ESPY Best International Female Athlete
2007 		Succeeded byMexico Lorena Ochoa
Preceded byRussia Elena Dementieva WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year
2010 		Succeeded byPoland Agnieszka Radwańska
Preceded bySerbia Ana Ivanovic WTA Humanitarian of the Year
2010 		Incumbent
Olympic Games
Preceded byAndrei Kirilenko Flagbearer for  Russia
London 2012 		Succeeded bySergey Tetyukhin
Maria Sharapova in the Grand Slam tournaments
Grand Slam achievements
Grand Slam
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Mixed doubles
Non-calendar year Grand Slam
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Mixed doubles
Career Grand Slam
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Mixed doubles
Australian Open women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
French Open women's singles champions
Amateur Era
(national)
Amateur Era
(international)
Open Era
Wimbledon women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
US Open women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
Maria Sharapova Achievements
Women's Tennis Association (WTA) world No. 1 singles players

United States Chris Evert (1975/1985 – 260 w)
Australia Evonne Goolagong (1976 – 2 w)
United States Martina Navratilova (1978/1987 – 331 w)
United States Tracy Austin (1980 – 22 w)
Germany Steffi Graf (1987/1997 – 377 w)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/United States Monica Seles (1991/1996 – 178 w)
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1995 – 12 w)
Switzerland Martina Hingis (1997/2001 – 209 w)
United States Lindsay Davenport (1998/2006 – 98 w)
United States Jennifer Capriati (2001/2002 – 17 w)
United States Venus Williams (2002 – 11 w)
United States Serena Williams (2002/2017 – 319 w)
Belgium Kim Clijsters (2003/2011 – 20 w)
Belgium Justine Henin (2003/2008 – 117 w)
France Amélie Mauresmo (2004/2006 – 39 w)
Russia Maria Sharapova (2005/2012 – 21 w)
Serbia Ana Ivanovic (2008 – 12 w)
Serbia Jelena Janković (2008/2009 – 18 w)
Russia Dinara Safina (2009 – 26 w)
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki (2010/2018 – 71 w)
Belarus Victoria Azarenka (2012/2013 – 51 w)
Germany Angelique Kerber (2016/2017 – 34 w)
Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková (2017 – 8 w)
Spain Garbiñe Muguruza (2017 – 4 w)
Romania Simona Halep (2017/2019 – 64 w)
Japan Naomi Osaka (2019 – 25 w)
Australia Ashleigh Barty (2019/2022 – 121 w)
Poland Iga Świątek (2022/2024 – 125 w)
Aryna Sabalenka (2023/2024 – 9 w)

  • WTA rankings incepted on 3 November 1975
  • (year first held/year last held – number of weeks (w))
  • current No. 1 in bold, as of week of 20 October 2024
WTA Year-end championships women's singles champions
Russian Cup — Female Tennis Player of the Year
Notes: = switched from  Kazakhstan; = juniors' circuit player awarded before the existence of the Juniors nomination, = wheelchair, = postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
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