Legend Maria Sharapova says goodbye to tennis at 32
Tennis veteran Maria Sharapova, the winner of five Grand Slam singles titles has called time on her long-standing career. Sharapova faced trouble managing injuries as she attempted a comeback after being suspended for taking a banned substance. Although she reached the semi-finals of her comeback tournament in Germany, she struggled by her standards in her final two seasons. Here is more.
Sharapova made the announcement in an interview
"I'm new to this, please forgive me. I'm saying goodbye. Tennis showed me the world and it showed me what I was made of. In whatever I might choose for my next chapter I'll still be pushing," Sharapova told Vanity Fair in an exclusive interview.
Maria was awarded full-time scholarship by Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy
After discovering her extraordinary talent, Sharapova was awarded a full-time scholarship by the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy at Bradenton, Florida. The academy is famous for producing other legendary players like Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and the Williams sisters.
A prodigy, Sharapova won her first Slam in 2004
Sharapova ends her career with a record five grand slams Her last appearance came at the 2020 Australian Open, where she was knocked out in the first round. She won her fifth Grand Slam in 2014 when she clinched the French Open for the second time. She announced her arrival by winning Wimbledon in 2004 at 17, beating world number one Serena Williams.
Sharapova trounced Serena to win her first Slam
Having started her professional career in 2001, the-then 17-year-old took the world by storm when she trounced the mighty Serena Williams in straight sets. The following few years saw Sharapova's dominance as she became the number one player in 2005. A year later, she was crowned the US Open champion. In 2008, Sharapova clinched the coveted Australian Open title.
Sharapova emulated Williams in 2012
In 2012, after recovering from a career-threatening shoulder injury, Sharapova became the second woman after Williams in this century to complete a career Grand Slam, when she won the first of her two French Opens. She won her second French Open title in 2014.
Sharapova was banned in 2016 for failing a drugs test
Sharapova was provisionally banned from tennis, in 2016, after she tested positive at the Australian Open for a banned drug that she had been taking for 10 years for health reasons. However, she claimed she had been prescribed Meldonium by her doctor in 2006 to deal with various health issues such as irregular heartbeat and a history of diabetes in her family.
Tennis gave me a new life: Sharapova
"In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life. I'll miss it. I'll miss the training and daily routine: waking up at dawn, lacing my left shoe before my right, and closing the court's gate before I hit my first ball," Sharapova said.
