Maria Sharapova is openly expressing gratitude toward her father, Yuri Sharapov, acknowledging the life-changing choices he made that helped her reach tennis stardom. The Russian tennis legend credits her father for guiding her career and laying down a path she was confident enough to follow.
Born in 1987, Sharapova began playing tennis at a very young age, with her father fully supporting her from the start. In 1993, she caught the attention of tennis great Martina Navratilova, who recognized her potential. Navratilova advised Yuri to relocate the family to the United States, saying it would provide Maria with better opportunities to develop her skills and pursue a professional career.
The move happened in 1994, and soon after, Sharapova began training at the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Academy. Her dedication paid off, and she turned professional at just 14 in 2001. By 2004, she made history by winning Wimbledon at 17, defeating Serena Williams in the final. The following year, she also reached the world No. 1 ranking at age 18.
Reflecting on her early journey, Sharapova admitted she was too young to have grand ambitions but trusted her father’s vision completely. On Bloomberg’s The Deal, she said:
“I knew our path was different from others. I may have been too young for big dreams, but I followed the road my father paved for me. It taught me persistence, focus, and the choice to strive to be the best every day.”
When Sharapova and her father moved to the U.S., she was just seven years old, and the adjustment was challenging, especially as they were initially separated from her mother due to visa issues. Despite the hardships, Maria appreciated the foundation her parents had built in Russia, which gave her confidence and resilience.
“Coming to the U.S. didn’t always make me feel like I belonged, but I considered it a gift, not a disadvantage. My parents provided love, stability, and support, and that made it possible to pursue my dreams,” she shared.
Sharapova’s career continued to soar. After her first Grand Slam win, she captured the US Open title, followed by the Australian Open in 2008, putting her just one title away from completing a Career Grand Slam. Despite early doubts about her performance on clay, she went on to win the French Open twice, in 2012 and 2014. By the end of her career, she had appeared in 10 Grand Slam finals, winning five.
Sharapova retired in January 2020 at age 32 after the Australian Open. Since then, she has focused on life off the court, including becoming a mother in 2022, and has repeatedly confirmed she has no plans to return to professional tennis.
