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{{Infobox Tennis player {{Infobox Tennis player
| playername =Maria Yuryevna Sharapova | playername =Maria Yuryevna Sharapova
| nickname = '''Masha''' | nickname = '''Masha'''
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|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> |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 has won three ] singles titles. In 2004, she beat ] to take the ] title at the age of 17. She defeated ] to take the ], and ] to take 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.


==Playing style== ==Playing style==
Sharapova has been labeled as an ] 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. 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.


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. 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.


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 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> 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>

==Early 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.

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> 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>


==Career== ==Career==
===2003=== ===2001-2003===


Having turned professional in 2001, though mainly playing on the ITF Circuit for her first two years, Sharapova hit the WTA Tour full-time in 2003. She qualified for both the ] and ], though lost in the first round in both. Her first taste of real success came at ]; having been issued a wildcard, the 16-year-old progressed to the fourth round, defeating 11th seed ] en route, but then lost a tight match to compatriot ]. Sharapova turned professional in 2001, although she played a total of just two ] tournaments in 2001 and 2002 plus six challenger events. 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 ].


Sharapova then won her first title at the Tier III tournament in ], becoming the youngest WTA titlist of the year<ref></ref>, and followed this up by winning another Tier III tournament in ]. She finished a very successful first full year on the tour ranked 32nd, and was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year. 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.


===2004=== ===2004===
]
Sharapova reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the ], where she lost to ]. Immediately afterwards, she seized her third title at ], a grass-court Wimbledon warm-up event.


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 Tier I ] 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 ].
The 17-year-old Sharapova went into ] as the thirteenth seed, but tipped by some to perhaps cause some upsets <ref></ref>. She made it to her second straight Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she defeated ] 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, and then upset former world number one ] 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 in the semifinals. She faced two-time defending champion ] in the final, with Williams the heavy favorite<ref></ref>; however, Sharapova defeated Williams 6-1, 6-4, to become the third-youngest Wimbledon women's champion (after ] and ]) and second-youngest in the open era, the first Russian to win that tournament and the lowest seed to win the women's event at that time (though ] would be seeded lower on her championship wins in 2005 and 2007).


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 Grand Slam singles tournament for the first time in her career, losing to ] 6-1, 6-3.
At the ] a few months later, she lost to French player and two-time Grand Slam champion ] in the third round. 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>


The tour then switched to ]s in the lead up to ]. In ], Sharapova defeated ] to win the title.
Sharapova continued her successful season by winning a title in ], defending her ] title, and reaching her first Tier I final in ]. She ended 2004 with a victory at the season-ending ], defeating an injured Serena Williams (4-6, 6-2, 6-4) after coming back from 0-4 in the final set.


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.)
Sharapova finished 2004 ranked fourth in the world and the second-ranked Russian (behind ]). She won five titles during the year, trailing only Lindsay Davenport's seven, and equal to ] and ]. Sharapova also topped the prizewinnings list for the women that season.

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 ].

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>

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.

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 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.


===2005=== ===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 in the match. In February, she won her first ] event in ], and followed this up with success in ]. 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.


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 ].
After reaching the French Open quarterfinals for the second straight year (losing to eventual champion ]), Sharapova successfully defended her Birmingham title, defeating ] in the final to extend her winning streak on grass to 17 matches. She then moved on to the task of defending her Wimbledon title where she reached the semifinals without losing a set, but then was well beaten by a rejuvenated ], the eventual champion, 7-6, 6-1. Sharapova's 22-match streak on grass was ended, as was her quest to dethrone top-ranked ].


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.
However, Davenport 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 No. 1 ranking on August 22, 2005, becoming 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 ].


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.
As the top seed at the ], Sharapova reached the semifinals, losing to eventual champion ]. This meant that she had lost to the eventual champion at all four Grand Slam events that year. Nevertheless, the points accumulated meant she once again leapfrogged Davenport to take the No. 1 ranking again on September 12, 2005. She kept the No. 1 ranking for six weeks before relinquishing it again to Davenport following the 2005 ].


] 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 ].
Sharapova failed to defend her title at the WTA Championships, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion ], but she still finished the year ranked number four again, and as the top-ranked Russian for the first time. She won three titles during the year, and was the only player that year to make it to three Grand Slam semi-finals.

At the ], Sharapova lost in the semifinals to eventual champion ]. Sharapova lost to the eventual champion in all four Grand Slam 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 failed to defend her title at the season-ending ], losing in the semifinals to eventual champion ].

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.


===2006=== ===2006===

] 2006]] ] 2006]]
Sharapova started the year by going out in the semi-finals of the ], losing to ] 4-6 6-1 6-4, the only match that year that Sharapova lost after winning the first set. She then won her first title of the year at the Tier I tournament in ], before moving onto ], where she had the chance to become just the third woman in history to win the Indian Wells-Miami double, but lost to ] in the final. 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 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.
A serious ankle injury forced Sharapova to miss most of the clay court season, and as a result, she played at the ] without having played any of the tune-ups. She was eliminated by ] in the fourth round 7-5 2-6 7-5, after serving for the match twice. On grass, Sharapova failed to add a third consecutive ] title to her collection, but was nevertheless considered the title favourite by many <ref></ref> at ]; however, she lost in the semifinals to world number one and eventual champion ]. It marked Sharapova’s fifth consecutive defeat in a Grand Slam semifinal.


Sharapova then lost in the final of the Tier I ] to ].
Sharapova claimed her second title of the year in ], where she defeated ] for the first time in the final. Coupled with a run to the semifinals in ], she finished second in the ] standings that year.


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.
Sharapova went into the ] seeded third after Clijsters dropped out with a wrist injury. She made the quarterfinals without dropping a set, before defeating ] 7-6 7-6. She then defeated Mauresmo for the first time in the semifinals with a score of 6-0 4-6 6-0 to make her second Grand Slam final, before defeating number two Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-4 in the final to collect her second Grand Slam title and join the list of eight players who had defeated the top two players en route to a Grand Slam title.


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.
Sharapova collected two titles back-to-back in the indoors season: in ] and in ]. She then moved onto the ], where she won all three of her round-robin matches in straight sets to extend her winning streak to 19 matches. However, she was then defeated in the semifinals by eventual champion Henin-Hardenne 6-2 7-6. She finished the year at number two and, for the second year, as the top Russian player. During the year, she won five titles (second only to Henin-Hardenne's six), including three Tier I titles, more than any other player.


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.
===2007===
]
As the top seed at the ] (due to ]'s withdrawal), Sharapova reached the final at the tournament for the first time, but then was crushed 6-1 6-2 by ], ranked 81st at the time. However, Sharapova's run to the final allowed her to recapture the world number one spot, holding it for seven weeks before a fourth round loss at ] saw her hand the position back to Henin.


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}}
A shoulder injury would plague the majority of Sharapova's 2007 season, initially forcing her to miss most of the clay court season. She went into the ] having played just one warm-up tournament (in ], where she reached the semifinals), but registered her best performance at the tournament to date, reaching the semifinals before losing 6-2 6-1 to ]. She then moved onto the British grass season, and, after losing in the final at ], was defeated in the fourth round at ] by eventual champion ] 6-1 6-3.


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.
After a short break due to her persistent shoulder problems, Sharapova claimed her first (and what would prove to be only) title of 2007 at the last ever edition of the ] in San Diego. A run to the semifinals in ] was enough for Sharapova to clinch the ] for the first time. Seeded second at the ], Sharapova was placed in the more favorable bottom half of the draw, and as such, was widely expected to reach the final <ref></ref>, but ultimately lost in the third round to 18-year-old Pole ] 6-4 1-6 6-2, her earliest exit at a Grand Slam in three years.


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.
Due to yet another recurrence of the shoulder injury, Sharapova played just one match over the next two months, a defeat to ] in ]. In October, Sharapova fell out of the top five on the rankings for the first time since 2004. Going into the ], she placed just ninth on the Race rankings, and was only awarded qualification to the tournament due to Venus Williams's withdrawal. However, Sharapova confounded expectations<ref></ref> by making the final at the tournament, with wins over four top-ranked players en route. She then lost to Justine Henin 5-7 7-5 6-3, in a match lasting 3 hours, 24 minutes, the 12th longest women's match in the open era.


===2007===
Sharapova ended the year as number five 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, trailing ]. 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 reached the final of the ], an exhibition tournament in ], where she was defeated by ] 6-3, 7-6(8).


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.
===2008===


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 went into the ] as the fifth seed, but as one of the favourites to take the title after her strong end-of-season showing. She reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, where she then snapped world number one ]'s 32-match winning streak with a 6-4, 6-0 victory, before reaching her second consecutive final in Melbourne and fourth Grand Slam final overall with a 6-3, 6-1 win over third seed ]. She then defeated fourth seed ] 7-5, 6-3 in the finals, having dropped just 10 points on serve in the match <ref></ref>, and thus becoming the first Russian woman to take this title, and marking the first time Sharapova had won a Grand Slam without dropping a set.


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.
Through the first week of Fed Cup, Sharapova has not lost a set and has lost a total of only 38 games in nine official matches.


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.
==Fed Cup participation==
One of the factors that has attracted controversy during Sharapova's career is the question of her national identity; more specifically, her representation of ] in the ]. The issue first came to the fore at the end of 2004, when compatriot ] stated she would stop playing for Russia if Sharapova joined.<ref></ref> Nonetheless, Russia's captain was keen for Sharapova to play in the tie against Italy in April 2005<ref></ref>, but Sharapova opted against playing to focus on her individual results. At the end of 2005, Sharapova stated she was now keen to make her debut<ref></ref> and was set to play against Belgium in April 2006, but again withdrew<ref></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.
Sharapova later withdrew from ties against Spain in April 2007<ref></ref> and against the USA in July 2007<ref></ref> due to injuries. The latter withdrawal led to Russia's captain saying she would be "ineligible for selection" for the Fed Cup final in September<ref></ref>. However, Sharapova attended the final, cheering from the sidelines and acting as a "hitting partner" in practices, which attracted controversy from her Russian teammates, with some implying she was only attending in order to enable her to play at the ] (rules state that players must have "shown commitment" to Fed Cup in order to play); ] commented "She said she wanted to be our practise partner but if you can't play how then can you practise?"<ref></ref>


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.
Sharapova finally made her Fed Cup debut in February 2008, in Russia's quarterfinal tie against ]. Sharapova won both her singles rubbers, against ] (6-4 6-0) and ] (6-1 6-1), helping Russia to a 4-1 victory.


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 ].
==Off-court==
Sharapova has generally attempted to keep her private life secret during her career. In the past, she has been romantically linked to fellow tennis players ]<ref></ref> and ]<ref></ref>, as well as ]'s ].<ref></ref> However, none of these relationships have ever been confirmed by Sharapova herself.


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.
Sharapova has in the past implied she does not see herself playing tennis for a great deal more years. In early 2007, as 23-year-old ] prepared to retire, Sharapova stated her approval and hinted that she may go down a similar path, stating "There are a lot of other things in life. I want to have a family and I can definitely see myself retiring at a similar age to Kim."<ref></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}}
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 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 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.


===2008===
In ], Sharapova was listed by '']'' as among the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world. In 2006, '']'' named Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year. 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."


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.
===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 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.
===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}}


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 ] (6-0, 6-4) and ] (6-1, 6-1).
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>


At the ] in ], Sharapova lost her first set of the year in the second round when she defeated ] 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. She plays ] in the third round.
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>


==Personal life==
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 ].
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.


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>
'''Current Sponsors:'''

*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*Parlux Fragrances
*] - signed a lifetime endorsement in 2007.
*Samantha Thavasa
*]
*]
*]


==Awards== ==Awards==
Line 172: Line 167:
;2008 ;2008
* Named the ] female Athlete of the Month by the ] for her performance at the ] * Named the ] female Athlete of the Month by the ] for her performance at the ]

==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}}

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 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.

In 2006, '']'' named Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year.

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>

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."

===Product endorsement and equipment===
Sharapova's first ] (before she entered the professional circuit) was one given to her by a family friend.

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>

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 ].

'''Current Sponsors:'''

*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*Parlux Fragrances
*] - signed a lifetime endorsement in 2007.
*Samantha Thavasa
*]
*]
*]

==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}}


==Quotations== ==Quotations==

Revision as of 00:13, 21 February 2008

Maria Sharapova
Country (sports) Russia
ResidenceBradenton, Florida, U.S.
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Turned proApril 19, 2001
PlaysRight-handed; two-handed backhand
Prize moneyUS$11,376,478
Singles
Career record282-66
Career titles17
Highest rankingNo.1 (August 22, 2005)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (2008)
French OpenSF (2007)
WimbledonW (2004)
US OpenW (2006)
Doubles
Career record23-16
Career titles3
Highest ranking41 (June 14, 2004)
Last updated on: January 26, 2008.

Maria Yuryevna Sharápova (Template:Lang-ru listen) (born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. As of February 14, 2008, she is the fifth-ranked female player in the world. At the end of 2006, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.

Sharapova has won three Grand Slam singles titles. In 2004, she beat Serena Williams to take the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Two years later, she defeated Justine Henin in the final of the 2006 U.S. Open. At the 2008 Australian Open, she beat Ana Ivanović in the final.

Playing style

Sharapova has been labeled as a power baseliner by tennis critics and fans. 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. 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.

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.

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.

Career

2001-2003

Sharapova turned professional in 2001, although she played a total of just two WTA tournaments in 2001 and 2002 plus six challenger events. She started playing tour events full-time in 2003. She won three qualifying matches at both the Australian Open and the French Open 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 Wimbledon, losing in the fourth round to compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 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 U.S. Open to Emilie Loit.

In October, Sharapova won her first title at the Tier III tournament in Tokyo and then won her second Tier III tournament four weeks later in Quebec City. She finished the year at World No. 32 and was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year.

2004

Sharapova started the year by reaching the third round of the Australian Open, where she lost to seventh-seeded Anastasia Myskina 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The week after the Australian Open, Sharapova lost in the second round of the Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to Daniela Hantuchova. She then returned to the United States for three hard court tournaments, reaching the semifinals in Memphis, the fourth round at the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, and the fourth round of the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.

During the spring clay court season leading up to the French Open, Sharapova lost in the third round at both Berlin and Rome, which were both Tier I events. At the French Open, Sharapova reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament for the first time in her career, losing to Paola Suarez 6-1, 6-3.

The tour then switched to grass courts in the lead up to Wimbledon. In Birmingham, Sharapova defeated Tatiana Golovin to win the title.

The 17-year-old Sharapova went into Wimbledon as the thirteenth seed. She reached her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she defeated Ai Sugiyama 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, and then upset fifth-seeded and former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals 2-6, 7-6, 6-1. She then faced two-time defending champion Serena Williams 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 Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis) and second-youngest in the open era. She was the first Russian to win the tournament and was, at the time, the lowest seed to win the women's event. (Venus Williams was seeded lower when she won the tournament subsequently in 2005 and 2007.)

During the North American summer hard court season leading up to the U.S. Open, Sharapova played three tournaments. She lost to Myskina in the quarterfinals of the Tier I tournament in San Diego. She lost to Vera Zvonareva in the third round of the Tier I tournament in Montreal. And she lost in the second round of the tournament in New Haven.

At the U.S. Open, Sharapova lost to French player and two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce 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 Beslan school hostage crisis, which took place only a few days before.

Sharapova then played three tournaments in Asia. She lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing. During the next two weeks, Sharapova won the Tier IV tournament in Seoul, South Korea and successfully defended her Tokyo title.

Before returning to the United States, Sharapova reached her first Tier I final in Zurich, losing to Alicia Molik. At the Tier II tournament in Philadelphia, Sharapova reached the semifinals before defaulting her match to Amelie Mauresmo. Sharapova then ended the year by winning the WTA Tour Championships. 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 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 Justine Henin's total. Sharapova also topped the prize winnings list for the year.

2005

Maria Sharapova at Indian Wells in 2005.

Sharapova started the year by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open, where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams 2-6, 7-5, 8-6, despite holding three match points.

In February, Sharapova won her first Tier 1 event in Tokyo. Three weeks later, she won the tournament in Doha. To complete the spring hard court season, Sharapova reached the semifinals of the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California and the final of the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Sharapova participated in two of the clay court tune-ups for the French Open. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin to Justine Henin and the semifinals of the Italian Open in Rome to Patty Schnyder. At the French Open, Sharapova lost in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, falling to Henin, the eventual champion.

On grass, Sharapova successfully defended her Birmingham title, defeating Jelena Janković 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 Venus Williams, the eventual champion.

Lindsay Davenport injured her back in the Wimbledon final, preventing her from defending the ranking points she obtained during the U.S. hard-court season of 2004. Sharapova had fewer points to defend and therefore rose to the World No. 1 ranking on August 22, 2005. 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 New Haven.

At the U.S. Open, Sharapova lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters. Sharapova lost to the eventual champion in all four Grand Slam 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 September 12, 2005. She kept that ranking for six weeks before relinquishing it again to Davenport following the Zurich Open.

Sharapova failed to defend her title at the season-ending WTA Tour Championships, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo.

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.

2006

Maria Sharapova at the Zurich Open 2006

At the Australian Open, Sharapova lost in the semifinals to Justine Henin 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, the only match of the year that Sharapova lost after winning the first set.

Sharapova claimed her first title of 2006 and eleventh of her career at the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California. She defeated fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva in the final 6-1, 6-2.

Sharapova then lost in the final of the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open to Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Sharapova participated at the French Open without having played any of the clay court tune-ups because of injury. After saving three match points in the first round against Mashona Washington, Sharapova was eliminated in the fourth round by Dinara Safina 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.

Sharapova then started the grass court season but failed to add a third successive Birmingham title to her collection, losing in the semifinals to American Jamea Jackson. At Wimbledon, Sharapova was defeated in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, losing to eventual winner and World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Sharapova claimed her second title of 2006 at the Tier I Acura Classic in San Diego, defeating top-seeded Kim Clijsters 7-5, 7-5. This was Sharapova's first victory over Clijsters in five meetings. She then played in Los Angeles, losing to Dementieva in the semifinals. This was Sharapova's only summer hardcourt loss of the year.

Sharapova was the third-seed at the U.S. Open. She defeated Tatiana Golovin 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 Grand Slam 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.

Sharapova then won two tournaments in consecutive weeks. At the Tier I Zurich Open, Sharapova defeated Daniela Hantuchová in the final. At the Generali Ladies Linz, Sharapova beat fellow Russian and defending champion Nadia Petrova to take her fifth title of 2006 and the 15th title of her career.

Until her loss in the semifinals of the WTA Tour Championships 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.

2007

Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in 2007.

Sharapova reached the final of the JB Group Classic, an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong, where she was defeated by Kim Clijsters 6-3, 7-6(8).

Sharapova was the top seed at the Australian Open because of World No. 1 Justine Henin's withdrawal. Sharapova defeated the 62nd-ranked Camille Pin in the first round 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 on her fourth match point in air temperatures that exceeded 40 °C (104 °F) and on-court temperatures that exceeded 50 °C (122 °F). In the semifinals, Sharapova defeated fourth-seeded Clijsters to reach her first Australian Open final and gain the opportunity to win the only Grand Slam singles title that a Russian woman had not yet won. However, Serena Williams, 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.

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 Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Sharapova retired from her semifinal match with Ana Ivanović. At the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, Sharapova lost to Vera Zvonareva 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 Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, Sharapova lost to Serena Williams for the second consecutive time 6-1, 6-1. In the third round of that tournament, Sharapova had beaten Venus Williams 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Injuries forced Sharapova to miss most the clay court season for the second consecutive year. Her only tune-up for the French Open was the Istanbul Cup, where she lost to Frenchwoman Aravane Rezaï 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 Patty Schnyder in the fourth round), but fell to Ivanović 6-2, 6-1.

On grass at the DFS Classic in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Sharapova lost in the final to second seeded Jelena Janković 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. At Wimbledon, Sharapova lost to Venus Williams in the fourth round 6-1, 6-3.

Sharapova's first summer hardcourt tournament was the Tier I Acura Classic in San Diego, California, 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.

At the East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles, a shin injury caused Sharapova to withdraw from her semifinal match with fellow Russian Nadia Petrova shortly before the match started. Nevertheless, she clinched the US Open Series for the first time.

Seeded second at the 2007 U.S. Open, 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 Agnieszka Radwańska 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 2004 U.S. Open.

Sharapova did not play again until the Tier I Kremlin Cup in Moscow in October, where she lost to Victoria Azarenka 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 Zurich and Linz, at both of which she was the defending champion.

Sharapova qualified for the WTA Tour Championships only because Venus Williams withdrew from the tournament. Playing only her second match in two months, Sharapova beat World No. 9 Daniela Hantuchová 6-4, 7-5 in her first round-robin match, before coming from a set down to defeat World No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova 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, Anna Chakvetadze, 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 open era.

Sharapova ended the year as World No. 5 on the official WTA 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).

2008

After beating Anna Chakvetadze in an exhibition match in Singapore, Sharapova reached the final of the JB Group Classic exhibition tournament in Hong Kong, where she lost to Venus Williams in the final 6-4, 6-3.

Sharapova was the fifth seed at the Australian Open, her lowest seeding at a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 2004 U.S. Open. On the way to the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated Lindsay Davenport in the second round and Elena Dementieva in the fourth round. In the quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated World No. 1 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-0, snapping Henin's 32-match winning streak. Sharapova then reached her second consecutive Australian Open final when she defeated an injured Jelena Janković 6-3, 6-1. She defeated Ana Ivanović 7-5, 6-3 in the final, dropping only 10 service points during the match. Sharapova now needs just the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam in singles.

After the Australian Open, Sharapova participated for the first time in Fed Cup. In the quarterfinal tie against Israel, Sharapova helped Russia reach the semifinals by winning her singles matches against Tzipora Obziler (6-0, 6-4) and Shahar Peer (6-1, 6-1).

At the Qatar Total Open in Doha, Sharapova lost her first set of the year in the second round when she defeated Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. She plays Tamarine Tanasugarn in the third round.

Personal life

The Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 compelled Sharapova's parents, Yuri and Yelena, to move from Gomel, Belarus, to the town of Nyagan in Siberia, Russia to live with Yelena's father. Maria was born the following year.

Sharapova's father brought her to the United States when she was seven years old, to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Her mother, Yelena, could not come with them because of visa restrictions, and followed two years later. Sharapova has lived in the United States since then, but retains her Russian citizenship. She has a home in Manhattan Beach, California.

Awards

File:Sharapove And Roddick.jpg
Sharapova with Andy Roddick at the Foundation Tennis Exhibition (December 2007)
See: WTA Awards
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

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 US$18 million. (CBS, 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."

In 2005 during a photo shoot for Canon, a lewd photo was taken of Sharapova without her knowledge by Japanese advertising agency Dentsu. The company currently has a lawsuit related to this incident.

Sharapova is visible in and outside of the court for her looks. Sharapova posed in a six-page bikini photoshoot spread in the 2006 issue of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, annual magazine that debuted on Valentine's Day, along with 25 scantily-clad supermodels. Sharapova joined the ranks of other athletes who have previously appeared in the publication. In April 2005, Sharapova was listed by People Magazine as among the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world.

In 2006, Maxim magazine named Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year.

On January 14, 2008, Sharapova and Sony Ericsson signed a four-year sponsorship agreement, and Canon U.S.A., Inc., announced an extension of its marketing relationship with Sharapova through 2010.

In a poll run by Britain's FHM magazine, Sharapova was voted the seventh most eligible bachelorette. Voting took into consideration both "wealth and looks."

Product endorsement and equipment

Sharapova's first racquet (before she entered the professional circuit) was one given to her by a family friend.

Sharapova used the Prince Tour Diablo for part of 2003 and then used several different Prince racquets until the U.S. Open. She gave the racquet she used in the 2004 Wimbledon final to Regis Philbin when taping Live with Regis and Kelly. 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.

She endorses Nike accessories, apparel, and footwear. She is well known for designing her tennis outfits, her most memorable being her 2006 nighttime US Open dress, inspired by Audrey Hepburn's look from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Current Sponsors:

Activism

On February 14, 2007, Sharapova was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and donated US$100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects. She is planning on traveling back to the area after Wimbledon in 2008.

Quotations

  • When asked at the press conference after the 2006 U.S. Open 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.
  • When questioned about her on-court grunting at the 2006 Australian Open: 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.
  • Reporter (after Sharapova won her second round at the 2007 French Open): 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (3)

Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2004 Wimbledon United States Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4
2006 U.S. Open Belgium Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4
2008 Australian Open Serbia Ana Ivanović 7-5, 6-3

Runner-up (1)

Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2007 Australian Open United States Serena Williams 6-1, 6-2

WTA Tour Championships singles finals

Win (1)

Year Venue Opponent in Final Score in Final
2004 Los Angeles United States Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4

Runner-up (1)

Year Venue Opponent in Final Score in Final
2007 Madrid Belgium Justine Henin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

WTA Tour titles (20)

Singles (17)

Legend
Grand Slam (3)
WTA Championships (1)
Tier I (5)
Tier II (2)
Tier III (5)
Tier IV (1)
Titles by Surface
Hard (13)
Grass (3)
Clay (0)
Carpet (1)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. September 29, 2003 Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo Hard Hungary Anikó Kapros 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5)
2. October 27, 2003 Quebec City, Canada Hard (i) Venezuela Milagros Sequera 6-2 retired
3. June 7, 2004 Birmingham, United Kingdom Grass France Tatiana Golovin 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
4. June 21, 2004 Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grass United States Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4
5. September 27, 2004 Seoul, Korea Hard Poland Marta Domachowska 6-1, 6-1
6. October 4, 2004 Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo Hard United States Mashona Washington 6-0, 6-1
7. November 8, 2004 WTA Championships, U.S. Hard (i) United States Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
8. February 6, 2005 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo Carpet (i) United States Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5)
9. February 21, 2005 Doha, Qatar Hard Australia Alicia Molik 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
10. June 6, 2005 Birmingham, United Kingdom Grass Serbia and Montenegro Jelena Janković 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
11. March 18, 2006 Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Russia Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-2
12. August 6, 2006 San Diego, U.S. Hard Belgium Kim Clijsters 7-5, 7-5
13. September 9, 2006 U.S. Open, U.S. Hard Belgium Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4
14. October 22, 2006 Zürich, Switzerland Hard (i) Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
15. October 29, 2006 Linz, Austria Hard (i) Russia Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-2
16. August 5, 2007 San Diego, U.S. Hard Switzerland Patty Schnyder 6-2, 3-6, 6-0
17. January 26, 2008 Australian Open Hard Serbia Ana Ivanović 7-5, 6-3

Doubles (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponents in the final Score
1. September 29, 2003 Tokyo, Japan Hard Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn United States Ansley Cargill &
United States Ashley Harkleroad
7-6(1), 6-0
2. October 20, 2003 Luxembourg, Luxembourg Hard Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn Ukraine Elena Tatarkova &
Germany Marlene Weingartner
6-1, 6-4
3. June 7, 2004 Birmingham, United Kingdom Grass Russia Maria Kirilenko Australia Lisa McShea &
Venezuela Milagros Sequera
6-2, 6-1

WTA Tour runner-ups (8)

Singles (7)

Legend
Grand Slam (1)
WTA Championships (1)
Tier I (3)
Tier II (1)
Tier III (1)
Tier IV & V (0)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. October 24, 2004 Zurich, Switzerland Hard Australia Alicia Molik 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. March 3, 2005 Miami, U.S. Hard Belgium Kim Clijsters 6-3, 7-5
3. February 26, 2006 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard Belgium Justine Henin 7-5, 6-2
4. March 2, 2006 Miami, U.S. Hard Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-3
5. January 29, 2007 Australian Open, Melbourne Hard United States Serena Williams 6-1, 6-2
6. June 18, 2007 Birmingham, United Kingdom Grass Serbia Jelena Janković 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
7. November 11, 2007 WTA Tour Championships, Madrid, Spain Hard Belgium Justine Henin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

Doubles (1)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponents in the final Score
1. February 16, 2004 Memphis, U.S. Hard Russia Vera Zvonareva Sweden Åsa Svensson &
United States Meilen Tu
6-4, 7-6(0)

ITF titles (4)

Singles (4)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. April 21, 2002 Gunma, Japan Clay Japan Aiko Nakamura 6-4, 6-1
2. August 4, 2002 Vancouver, Canada Hard United States Laura Granville 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. September 15, 2002 Peachtree City, U.S. Hard United States Kelly McCain 6-0, 6-1
4. May 11, 2003 Sea Island, U.S. Clay Australia Christina Wheeler 6-4, 6-3

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 Fed Cup, which ended on February 3, 2008.

Tournament 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Career SR Career Win-Loss
Australian Open A 1R 3R SF SF F W 1 / 6 28-5
French Open A 1R QF QF 4R SF 0 / 5 19-5
Wimbledon A 4R W SF SF 4R 1 / 5 23-4
U.S. Open A 2R 3R SF W 3R 1 / 5 17-4
Grand Slam SR 0 / 0 0 / 4 1 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 1 3 / 21 N/A
Grand Slam Win-Loss 0-0 10-4 15-3 19-4 20-3 16-4 7-0 N/A 87-18
Doha - - - - - - 0 / 0 0-0
Indian Wells 2R 1R 4R SF W 4R 1 / 6 15-5
Miami A 1R 4R F F 4R 0 / 5 14-5
Charleston A 1R A A A A 0 / 1 2-1
Berlin A A 3R QF A A 0 / 2 4-2
Rome A A 3R SF A A 0 / 2 5-2
Montréal/Toronto A 1R 3R A A A 0 / 2 1-2
Tokyo A A 2R W SF SF 1 / 4 9-3
Moscow A A A QF QF 2R 0 / 3 2-2
Zurich A A F A W A - 1 / 2 7-1
San Diego - - QF A W W - 2 / 3 12-1
WTA Tour Championships A A W SF SF F 1 / 4 13-5
Tournaments played 2 14 20 15 15 13 1 N/A 80
Finals reached 0 2 6 4 7 4 1 N/A 24
Tournaments Won 0 2 5 3 5 1 1 N/A 17
Hardcourt Win-Loss 1-2 20-8 34-11 29-7 45-5 24-5 9-0 N/A 162-38
Clay Win-Loss 0-0 5-2 8-3 9-3 3-1 7-2 0-0 N/A 32-11
Grass Win-Loss 0-0 9-2 12-0 10-1 8-2 7-2 0-0 N/A 46-7
Carpet Win-Loss 0-0 0-0 1-1 5-1 3-1 2-2 0-0 N/A 11-5
Overall Win-Loss 1-2 34-12 55-15 53-12 59-9 40-11 9-0 N/A 251-61
Year End Ranking 186 32 4 4 2 5 N/A N/A

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

- = tournament was either not held or was not a Tier I event at the time it was held.

Doha became a Tier I event in 2008. San Diego and Zurich are no longer Tier I events.

If ITF women's circuit (Hardcourt: 22-4; Clay: 9-1) participation is included, then her overall win-loss record stands at 282-66.

WTA Tour career earnings

Year Majors WTA wins Total wins Earnings ($) Money list rank
2003 0 2 2 222,005 51
2004 1 4 5 2,506,263 1
2005 0 3 3 1,921,283 5
2006 1 4 5 3,799,501 2
2007 0 1 1 1,758,550 7
2008 1 0 1

Notable matches

2004 Wimbledon final: defeated heavily-favored two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 to become the third youngest woman to win the title at the All England Club and the lowest seed (at the time) to do so.

2004 WTA Tour Championships 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.

2005 Australian Open 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.

2005 U.S. Open semifinal: defeated by eventual champion Kim Clijsters 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.

2006 Miami semifinal: defeated Tatiana Golovin 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.

2006 San Diego 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.

2006 U.S. Open semifinal: defeated Amelie Mauresmo, the World No. 1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0. This was the first U.S. Open semifinal with two 6-0 sets.

2006 U.S. Open final: defeated Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 to win her second Grand Slam 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.

2007 French Open fourth round: defeated Patty Schnyder 3-6, 6-4, 9-7. Sharapova came into the tournament with an injury and overcame two match points against her during this match.

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 open era. It was widely agreed as the best women's match of 2007, with some citing it as an all-time classic.

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 "bagel" set since 2002. It also marked the first time since 2005 that Henin had lost in a Grand Slam tournament before the semifinals.

References

  1. ^ "Players / Women / Profile Maria Sharapova - Russia".
  2. Martin, John (September 7, 2006). "The Highest Paid Female Athlete On The Planet; Why Sharapova Is So Hot". ABC News. Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. Maria Sharapova - Tennis Game Profile
  4. Maria Sharapova - Tennis Game Profile
  5. Why do women tennis stars grunt?
  6. Sharapova puts loss in perspective
  7. Sharapova breezes past Davenport
  8. Brilliant Sharapova hammers Henin
  9. Australian Open Match Statistics
  10. ^ Associated Press (2007-08-13). "Maria Sharapova plans 1st trip back to Chernobyl since family fled". International Herald Tribune.
  11. "Maria Sharapova Inc". Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). 2008-01-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. "Tennis academy where stars are born". British Broadcasting Corporation. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ Dennis Campbell (2004-11-28). "Love match turns to hate as Russian stars attack Maria". The Guardian (United Kingdom).
  14. Kathy Ehrich-Dowd (2006-04-17). "Celebrity Q & A - Maria Sharapova". People Magazine.
  15. Ad agency sued over lewd picture of Maria Sharapova
  16. "Maria Sharapova and Sony Ericsson sign 4 year contract". Mobiles2day.com. Maria Sharapova and Sony Ericsson sign 4 year contract
  17. "CANON U.S.A. EXTENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH TENNIS STAR MARIA SHARAPOVA THROUGH 2010". Canon U.S.A., Inc.
  18. "Rod's daughter most eligible". NEWS.COM.AU. February 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  19. Tennis Warehouse - Maria Sharapova
  20. Tennis: At last, Sharapova proves it - she's not a 1-hit wonder
  21. Beaten Sharapova turns on media
  22. Maria Sharapova Official Site
  23. Maria Sharapova quotes
  24. Sharapova proves her worth
  25. JockBio: Maria Sharapova Quotes

See also

External links

Template:S-awards
Sporting positions
Preceded byLindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport
Justine Henin
World No. 1
August 22, 2005 - August 28, 2005
September 12, 2005 - October 23, 2005
January 29, 2007 - March 18, 2007
Succeeded byLindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport
Justine Henin
Preceded byAna Ivanović US Open Series Champion
2007
Succeeded byTBA
Preceded bySvetlana Kuznetsova WTA Newcomer of the Year
2003
Succeeded byTatiana Golovin
Preceded byNadia Petrova WTA Most Improved Player
2004
Succeeded byAna Ivanović
Preceded byJustine Henin WTA Player of the Year
2004
Succeeded byKim Clijsters
Preceded bySerena Williams
Venus Williams
ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
2005
2007
Succeeded byVenus Williams
TBA
Preceded byN/A ESPY Best International Female Athlete
2007
Succeeded byTBA
World Top 10 tennis players as of 2 December 2024
ATP singlesATP doublesWTA singlesWTA doubles
  1. Italy Jannik Sinner
  2. Germany Alexander Zverev
  3. Spain Carlos Alcaraz
  4. United States Taylor Fritz
  5. Daniil Medvedev
  6. Norway Casper Ruud
  7. Serbia Novak Djokovic
  8. Andrey Rublev
  9. Australia Alex de Minaur
  10. Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov
  1. El Salvador Marcelo Arévalo
  2. Croatia Mate Pavić
  3. Australia Jordan Thompson
  4. Spain Marcel Granollers
  5. Argentina Horacio Zeballos
  6. Croatia Nikola Mektić
  7. Germany Kevin Krawietz
  8. Netherlands Wesley Koolhof
  9. Germany Tim Pütz
  10. Italy Andrea Vavassori
  1. Aryna Sabalenka
  2. Poland Iga Świątek
  3. United States Coco Gauff
  4. Italy Jasmine Paolini
  5. China Zheng Qinwen
  6. Kazakhstan Elena Rybakina
  7. United States Jessica Pegula
  8. United States Emma Navarro
  9. Daria Kasatkina
  10. Czech Republic Barbora Krejčíková
  1. Czech Republic Kateřina Siniaková
  2. New Zealand Erin Routliffe
  3. Canada Gabriela Dabrowski
  4. Ukraine Lyudmyla Kichenok
  5. United States Taylor Townsend
  6. Latvia Jeļena Ostapenko
  7. Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
  8. Belgium Elise Mertens
  9. Italy Sara Errani
  10. Italy Jasmine Paolini
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
Australian Open women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
Wimbledon women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
US Open women's singles champions
Amateur Era
Open Era
WTA Year-end championships women's singles champions


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