Maria Sharapova’s last professional appearance came at the 2020 Australian Open, where she exited in the first round to Croatia’s Donna Vekic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Just a week earlier, she had also fallen in her Brisbane opener to Jennifer Brady.
The Russian star, who famously lifted the Australian Open trophy in 2008 after defeating Ana Ivanovic, recently looked back on her breakthrough Wimbledon win during an appearance on the Second Life podcast. At just 17 years old, Sharapova stunned the tennis world by capturing her first—and only—title on the grass of the All England Club in 2004.
Seeded 17th, she cruised past Yuliya Beygelzimer, Anne Keothavong, Daniela Hantuchova, and Amy Frazier before battling past Ai Sugiyama in the quarterfinals and Lindsay Davenport in the semis. In the final, she shocked defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.
Recalling the moment, Sharapova shared a unique family memory:
“My mother was actually on a flight when I played that final. It was around the time airlines first introduced small TV screens, and she happened to watch me win Wimbledon from 30,000 feet in the air. After the match, I hugged my dad and rushed to call her, only to realize she was still mid-flight.”
Sharapova returned to the Wimbledon final once more in 2011, losing to Petra Kvitova. She also claimed a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, where Serena Williams defeated her convincingly, 6-0, 6-1.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Wimbledon was canceled in 2020, but Sharapova admitted she hadn’t been on court much recently. “I haven’t picked up a racket in the past couple of months since I’ve been home. But I’ll definitely get back on court when things ease up. Tennis is a sport I love deeply, and I’ll always return to it,” she said.
However, she acknowledged the difference now that she’s retired:
“It will feel strange, of course. I’m no longer a professional, so the sensations won’t be the same. But I’ve always been someone who embraces new feelings, even uncomfortable ones. I’ll face that when I step back on court.”
