Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Maria Sharapova

How Maria Sharapova built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Maria Sharapova is a retired Russian professional tennis player who achieved the world No. 1 ranking. A dominant force in women's tennis, she held the top spot for 21 weeks and accumulated 36 WTA Tour-level singles titles. Her career is highlighted by five major titles and winning the 2004 WTA Tour Championships. Sharapova distinguished herself as one of the few women to accomplish a Career Grand Slam in singles, solidifying her place among the sport's elite.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1985: First Time a Player Won in Back-to-Back Double Bagels Since 1985 Australian Open

In 2013, at the Australian Open, Sharapova won in back-to-back double bagels in the first two rounds, the first time a player had done this since the 1985 Australian Open.

1999: Represented by IMG agent Max Eisenbud

Around 1999, Maria Sharapova began being represented by IMG agent Max Eisenbud.

November 2000: Eddie Herr Championship Win

In November 2000, Maria Sharapova won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at the age of 13 and received the Rising Star Award.

2001: US Open Junior Tournament

In 2001, Maria Sharapova reached the second round of the US Open in the Junior Grand Slam tournament.

2001: Professional Debut

In 2001, on her 14th birthday on April 19, Maria Sharapova made her professional debut.

2001: First Time Since 2001

In 2014, during Sharapova's French Open victory, it was the first time since 2001 that a third set was contested in the final.

2001: Turned Professional

Since turning professional in 2001, Maria Sharapova earned US$285 million, including prize money, according to Forbes.

August 2002: Lowest ranking since August 2002

After the 2020 Australian Open, Sharapova's ranking fell to no. 369, her lowest ranking since August 2002.

October 2002: ITF Junior Ranking

On 21 October 2002, Maria Sharapova reached No. 6 in the ITF junior world singles ranking.

2002: WTA Tournament and Junior Finals

In 2002, Maria Sharapova played her first WTA tournament at the Pacific Life Open, and reached the finals of the girls' singles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

2002: Lowest Year-End Ranking Since 2002

In 2002, Sharapova ended the year ranked No. 131, which was her lowest year-end ranking since 2002.

2003: Loss at Australian Open

At the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova lost her opening match for the first time since 2003.

2003: Earliest Exit from Miami Open

In 2003, Maria Sharapova had her earliest exit from the Miami Open since her first appearance at the tournament, losing in the second round to Daria Gavrilova.

2003: First Full Season and WTA Titles

In 2003, Maria Sharapova played a full season, climbed into the top 50, debuted at the Australian Open and French Open, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, captured her first WTA title at the Japan Open Tennis Championships, and won her second at the Bell Challenge in Quebec City. She was also awarded the WTA Newcomer of the Year honor.

2003: Use of Prince Triple Threat Hornet

In 2003, Maria Sharapova used the Prince Triple Threat Hornet racquet for part of the year, before switching to other Prince racquets.

2003: Earliest Wimbledon Loss

Maria Sharapova experienced her earliest Wimbledon loss since 2003, losing in the fourth round to eventual champion Venus Williams.

December 2004: Participated in exhibition for Florida Hurricane Relief Fund

In December 2004, Sharapova participated in an exhibition in Tampa, raising money for the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund.

2004: Motorola endorsement and other commercials

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. In 2004, Tiffany also started providing Sharapova with earrings from the "Tiffany for Maria Sharapova" collection at the four major events, that were also retailed globally.

2004: Top 20 WTA Ranking

In 2004, Maria Sharapova entered the top 20 on the WTA world rankings after reaching the third round of the Qatar Telecom German Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, where she defeated Elena Dementieva.

2004: Use of Prince More Attack 920 and Wimbledon Win

In 2004, Maria Sharapova started the season using the Prince More Attack 920 racquet, which she then used to win the 2004 Wimbledon Championships. She later gifted the racquet to Regis Philbin.

2004: WTA Tour Championships

In 2004, Maria Sharapova won the WTA Tour Championships.

2004: Michael Joyce becomes coach

In 2004, Michael Joyce became one of Sharapova's coaches, a role he held until 2011.

2004: Wimbledon Championships Victory

In 2004, at 17 years old, Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon Championships, upsetting Serena Williams, the two-time defending champion.

2004: US Open Loss

Maria Sharapova had her earliest exit at a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 2004 US Open, where she lost in the third round.

August 2005: World No. 1 Ranking

In August 2005, Maria Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time at the age of 18, making her the first Russian woman to achieve this ranking.

September 2005: Return to World No. 1 Ranking

On 12 September 2005, Maria Sharapova regained the world No. 1 ranking after the US Open.

2005: Switch to Prince Turbo Shark MP

At the 2004 US Open until 2005, Maria Sharapova began using the Prince Turbo Shark MP, which was specially designed for her.

2005: Keen to make Fed Cup debut in 2005

At the end of 2005, Sharapova stated she was keen to make her Fed Cup debut.

2005: Maria Sharapova's ranking

From 2005 to 2012, Maria Sharapova held the number one ranking for 21 weeks.

2005: Donation to Beslan school hostage crisis victims

In 2005, Sharapova donated around US$50,000 to those affected by the Beslan school hostage crisis.

January 2006: Switch to Prince O3 White racquet

In January 2006, Maria Sharapova switched to the Prince O3 White racquet.

March 2006: Highest-paid female athlete

In March 2006, Forbes magazine listed Sharapova as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over US$18 million, mostly from endorsements and sponsorships.

April 2006: Withdrawal from Fed Cup Tie against Belgium

In April 2006, Sharapova was set to play against Belgium in the Fed Cup but withdrew.

2006: Indian Wells Title

In 2006, Maria Sharapova won the Tier I tournament in Indian Wells, defeating Elena Dementieva in the final. She had previously lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open and Dubai Tennis Championships.

2006: Little black dress at US Open

In 2006, Sharapova collaborated with Nike on the little black dress that she wore for her night matches at the US Open. The dress featured a round crystal-studded collar and was inspired by Audrey Hepburn.

2006: Starred in Nike 'Pretty' campaign

In the summer of 2006, Sharapova starred in an award-winning campaign for the sports clothing brand Nike, titled "Pretty".

2006: First Since 2006

Maria Sharapova reached the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time since she won the tournament in 2006.

January 2007: Signed sponsorship deal with Gatorade and Tropicana

In January 2007, Sharapova signed a sponsorship deal with Gatorade and Tropicana, which ended in 2009.

February 2007: United Nations Ambassador

In February 2007, Maria Sharapova became a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme.

February 2007: Appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

On February 14, 2007, Sharapova was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and donated US$210,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects.

April 2007: Withdrawal from Fed Cup Tie against Spain

In April 2007, Sharapova withdrew from the Fed Cup tie against Spain due to injury.

July 2007: Withdrawal from Fed Cup Tie against United States

In July 2007, Sharapova withdrew from the Fed Cup tie against the United States due to injury, leading to potential ineligibility for the Fed Cup final.

2007: First Time Qualifying Since 2007

2011 was Maria Sharapova's first time qualifying for the WTA Tour Championship since 2007.

2007: Brief use of Prince O3 Speedport White

At the 2007 Kremlin Cup, Maria Sharapova briefly used the Prince O3 Speedport White, but ultimately switched back to the O3 White.

2007: US Open Loss to Teenager

At the US Open in 2007, Maria Sharapova was defeated by American teenager Melanie Oudin, marking the second time in her career she lost to a teenager at a Grand Slam tournament.

2007: Shoulder problems affect serve

From the beginning of 2007, problems with Sharapova's shoulder reduced the effectiveness of her serve, leading to inconsistent first serves and high numbers of double faults.

2007: Acknowledged discomfort on clay courts

In 2007, Sharapova admitted she was not as comfortable with her movement on clay courts, stating she felt like a "cow on ice" due to her inability to slide effectively.

2007: Continued as highest-paid female athlete

In 2007, Sharapova continued to be the highest-paid female athlete, topping the Forbes list despite her shoulder injury.

February 2008: Fed Cup Debut

In February 2008, Sharapova made her Fed Cup debut in Russia's quarterfinal tie against Israel, winning both her singles rubbers.

July 2008: Switch to Prince O3 Speedport Black

In July 2008, Maria Sharapova switched to the Prince O3 Speedport Black after returning to the tour from shoulder surgery.

July 2008: Message to Emily Bailes memorial service

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.

August 2008: Highest Ranking Since August 2008

As a result of winning the Cincinnati Open, Sharapova moved up to world No. 4, her highest ranking since August 2008.

2008: Top-10 Finish Since 2008

2011 marked Maria Sharapova's first top-10 finish since 2008, ending the year as No. 4 in the world.

2008: Remarks on retirement after Henin's retirement

Following Justine Henin's retirement in 2008, Sharapova remarked that if she were 25 and had won many Grand Slams, she would quit too. In an interview after the 2008 Australian Open, she hoped to have a husband and kids within ten years.

2008: Loss on Clay After Winning First Set

In 2008, Maria Sharapova lost a match on clay after winning the first set against Dinara Safina in the fourth round at the French Open.

2008: Australian Open Title

In 2008, Maria Sharapova won the Australian Open.

2008: Attendance to Fed Cup Final to enable play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

In 2008, Sharapova attended the Fed Cup final to enable her to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, even though she was injured.

2008: Return from injury layoff

In her return from an injury layoff in 2008, Sharapova used an abbreviated serving motion. This produced aces but was less powerful and resulted in a high number of double faults.

February 2009: Sharapova Outside Top 10

In February 2009, Maria Sharapova's ranking fell outside the top 10.

2009: US Open Series Finals

During the US Open Series in 2009, Maria Sharapova made two straight finals, losing to Victoria Azarenka and Kim Clijsters. At the US Open, she lost in the fourth round to Caroline Wozniacki.

2009: Continued abbreviated motion

In 2009, Sharapova continued to use the abbreviated serving motion from her return in 2008, which, whilst producing aces, was still less powerful, and also gave a very high number of double faults.

2009: First red clay title at Internationaux de Strasbourg

In 2009, Sharapova won her first red clay title at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, marking a significant improvement on clay courts.

2009: End of Gatorade and Tropicana sponsorship

In 2009, the sponsorship deal with Gatorade and Tropicana, which started in January 2007, ended.

January 2010: Renewal of Nike contract

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.

July 2010: Visit to Chernobyl-affected areas

In late June/early July 2010, Sharapova fulfilled her planned trip to Chernobyl-affected areas after it was postponed in 2008 due to her shoulder injury. In 2010, she visited areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster after being appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in 2007.

2010: Return to elongated serving motion

From 2010, Sharapova returned to a more elongated serving motion, similar to her pre-surgery serve. She achieved greater speeds, including a 121 mph serve at the Birmingham tournament in 2010.

2010: Forehand swing alteration

From 2010, after her shoulder surgery, Sharapova modified her forehand swing to a more conventional style with increased topspin. This adjustment helped her excel on clay courts, but it affected her performance on faster hard and grass courts. This change occurred in 2010.

2010: Switch to Prince EXO3 Black 100

In 2010, Maria Sharapova switched to the Prince EXO3 Black 100 racquet.

2010: Launch of Nike Maria Sharapova Collection

In 2010, Sharapova launched her own tennis apparel line, the Nike Maria Sharapova Collection. The collection includes dresses designed for major tournaments in collaboration with Nike and Cole Haan. She also designs shoes and handbags for Cole Haan.

2010: Thomas Högstedt becomes coach

In 2010, Thomas Högstedt became one of Sharapova's coaches, a role he held until 2013, and again from 2018 to 2019.

2010: Worst Grand Slam Result Since 2010 Australian Open

In 2010, at Wimbledon, Sharapova had her worst Grand Slam result since the 2010 Australian Open and her first ever opening round loss at Wimbledon.

2011: Only woman on Forbes list of top-paid athletes

In 2011, Forbes listed Sharapova as No. 29 in their list of 50 top-paid athletes, making her the only woman on the list.

2011: Endorsement of Head Racquets

In 2011, Maria Sharapova began endorsing Head racquets and used their Instinct line.

2011: US Open, Pan Pacific Open and WTA Tour Championships

In 2011, Maria Sharapova entered the US Open as the third seed, but was upset by Flavia Pennetta in the third round. She then participated in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she retired in the quarterfinal due to an ankle injury. This also forced her to withdraw from the China Open. She then flew to Istanbul to prepare for the 2011 WTA Tour Championships. Sharapova withdrew during the round-robin stage after defeats against Samantha Stosur and Li Na.

2011: Australian Open, Dubai Championships, Qatar Open and BNP Paribas Open

In 2011, Maria Sharapova participated in the Australian Open as the 14th seed, but lost in the fourth round to Andrea Petkovic. She had to withdraw from the Dubai Championships and the Qatar Open due to an ear infection. Sharapova returned to the tour at the BNP Paribas Open, where she reached the semifinal, losing to Caroline Wozniacki.

2011: Thomas Högstedt joins as coach, exhibition match win, Auckland Open and Split with Joyce

In 2011, Maria Sharapova's season began with the announcement of Thomas Högstedt joining as a coach alongside Michael Joyce. On December 5th, she won an exhibition match against Vera Zvonareva in Monterrey, Mexico. Sharapova participated in the Auckland Open, but lost in the quarterfinals to Gréta Arn. Following this, she decided to split with Michael Joyce, ending their successful partnership.

2011: Madrid Open, Italian Open and French Open

In 2011, during the clay-court season, Maria Sharapova participated in the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, winning the latter by defeating Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals and Samantha Stosur in the final. At the French Open, she reached the semifinals, losing to Li Na.

2011: Loss in 2011 Fed Cup

In the 2011 Fed Cup first-round tie, Sharapova lost to Virginie Razzano of France.

2012: Maria Sharapova's ranking

From 2005 to 2012, Maria Sharapova held the number one ranking for 21 weeks.

2012: Launch of Sugarpova Brand

In 2012, Maria Sharapova launched her confectionery brand, Sugarpova.

2012: Olympic Debut and Silver Medal

In 2012, Maria Sharapova made her Olympic debut at the London Summer Olympics. She won a silver medal in singles, losing to Serena Williams in the final.

2012: Indian Wells Open, Sony Ericsson Open and Porsche Grand Prix

In 2012, Maria Sharapova reached the final of the Indian Wells Open, losing to Victoria Azarenka. She also reached the final of the Sony Ericsson Open, losing to Agnieszka Radwańska. She won her first title of the year at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, defeating Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova defeated three current Grand Slam title holders to win the tournament.

2012: French Open Win

In 2012, Maria Sharapova used Head racquets from their Instinct line to win the French Open.

2012: Brisbane International, Australian Open and Open GDF Suez

In 2012, Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International due to an ankle injury. At the Australian Open, she reached the final, losing to Victoria Azarenka. She then played in the Open GDF Suez in Paris, where she lost in the quarterfinals to Angelique Kerber.

2012: French Open Title and Olympic Medal

In 2012, Maria Sharapova won the French Open to complete her career Grand Slam, and shortly after, she won an Olympic silver medal in women's singles at the London Olympics.

2012: French Open Victory and Olympic Flag Bearer

In 2012, Maria Sharapova won the French Open, securing her fourth career Grand Slam title and completing a Career Grand Slam. She was also chosen by the Russian Olympic Committee to be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first female Russian athlete to receive this honor.

2012: Victory at Stuttgart Open

In 2012, Maria Sharapova won the Stuttgart Open, marking the start of her three-year winning streak at the tournament.

2012: 2012 Fed Cup Win against Spain

In 2012, Sharapova participated in the Fed Cup and helped Russia to a 3–2 win against Spain in the first-round tie.

2012: Forbes list of top-paid athletes

In 2012, Sharapova was listed as No. 15 on the Forbes list of top-paid athletes, joined by Li Na at No. 16 and Serena Williams at No. 17.

2012: Changed stance on retirement

In an interview before her 2012 Australian Open semifinal, Sharapova changed her stance on retirement, stating that she intended to continue playing tennis as long as she enjoyed it.

August 2013: Shoulder Injury Since August 2013

Sharapova had not played since August 2013 due to a recurring shoulder injury and made her comeback at the Brisbane International.

2013: Jimmy Connors and Sven Groeneveld become coaches

In 2013, Jimmy Connors and Sven Groeneveld became coaches for Sharapova. Groeneveld continued in this role until 2018.

2013: Opening Round Loss

In 2013, Maria Sharapova recorded her first opening round loss since 2013, with a straight-sets loss to eighth seed Magdaléna Rybáriková at the Kremlin Cup.

2013: Brand Ambassador Deal with Porsche

In 2013, Maria Sharapova signed a three-year deal to become a brand ambassador for Porsche.

2013: Brisbane International and Australian Open

In 2013, Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International due to a collarbone injury. She started her season at the Australian Open, reaching the semifinals and losing to Li Na.

2013: Victory at Stuttgart Open

In 2013, Maria Sharapova won the Stuttgart Open, marking the second year of her three-year winning streak at the tournament.

2014: US Open Win

In 2014, Maria Sharapova achieved her first US Open win since the 2014 US Open, opening the US Open against Simona Halep and winning in three sets.

2014: Investment in Supergoop

In 2014, Maria Sharapova invested in the sunscreen brand Supergoop.

2014: Second French Open Title

In 2014, Maria Sharapova won her second French Open title, marking her fifth major championship.

2014: Victory at Stuttgart Open

In 2014, Maria Sharapova won the Stuttgart Open, marking the third year of her three-year winning streak at the tournament.

2014: Highest winning percentage on clay

In 2014, Sharapova led the WTA Tour with the highest winning percentage on clay among active players, with an 84.25% winning rate. This was a high point in her clay court performance.

2015: 2015 Season Kickoff

In 2015, Maria Sharapova started her season at the Brisbane International as the top seed, where she won the title. She also participated in the Australian Open, reaching the final but losing to Serena Williams. Later, she played in Acapulco and Indian Wells, facing mixed results. She had an early exit at the Miami Open.

2015: 2015 Fed Cup Semifinals

In 2015, Sharapova helped Russia earn a place in the Fed Cup semifinals. She later joined the team for the final against Czech Republic and won both of her matches, although Russia still lost 3–2.

2015: First grasscourt win since 2015

In 2015, 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 and recorded her first grasscourt win since 2015.

2015: WTA Title Since 2015

In 2015, Sharapova's first WTA title since 2015 was at the Tianjin Open.

March 2016: Sharapova Reveals Failed Drug Test

On March 7, 2016, Sharapova revealed that she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open due to testing positive for meldonium. She was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) effective from 12 March 2016.

2016: Last year topping Forbes list of highest-paid female athlete

2016 was the last year Sharapova topped the Forbes list of highest-paid female athletes.

2016: Seeding at Australian Open

Despite her improved ranking from the Italian Open in Rome, Maria Sharapova was seeded at the 2016 Australian Open for the first time since her suspension.

2016: Drug Test Failure in 2016

In 2016, Sharapova failed a drugs test at the Australian Open after testing positive for meldonium.

2016: Hard Court Return at Stanford Classic

In 2016, after receiving a wildcard to play Birmingham Classic, Maria Sharapova's 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.

April 2017: Return to WTA Tour

In April 2017, Maria Sharapova returned to the WTA Tour after her suspension, receiving wildcards for the Stuttgart Open, Madrid Open, and Italian Open. She won her first match back at the Porsche Grand Prix against Roberta Vinci.

September 2017: Publication of autobiography, Unstoppable. My Life So Far

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

Unstoppable: My Life So Far

Check it on Amazon

2018: Mentor Program for Women Entrepreneurs

In 2018, Maria Sharapova launched a new program to mentor women entrepreneurs.

2018: 2018 Clay Court Season

In 2018, Maria Sharapova started her clay court season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, facing challenges and marking her fall out of the top 50. She participated in the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open, showing improved performance and climbing back inside the top 30.

2018: Thomas Hogstedt returns as coach

In 2018, Thomas Högstedt returned as one of Sharapova's coaches, continuing until 2019.

2019: 2019 Season

In 2019, Sharapova started the season at the Shenzhen Open, reaching the quarterfinals. She competed at the Australian Open, reaching the fourth round. She also recorded her first win in Russia in thirteen years at the St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy. However, she withdrew from several tournaments due to a shoulder injury and 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.

2019: Sugarpova Sales

In 2019, Sharapova's confectionery brand, Sugarpova, reported sales of $20 million.

2019: Thomas Hogstedt and Riccardo Piatti become coaches

In 2019, Thomas Högstedt and Riccardo Piatti became coaches for Sharapova. Piatti continued in this role until 2020.

February 2020: Retirement Announcement

On February 26, 2020, Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis in an essay in Vanity Fair and Vogue, marking the end of her professional career.

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2020: Appearance on Shark Tank and investment in Bala Bangles

In 2020, Maria Sharapova appeared as a guest shark on the American TV show Shark Tank, where she teamed up with Mark Cuban to invest in wearable wrist and ankle weights company Bala Bangles. In 2020, Sharapova also became an investor in wellness brand therabody.

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2020: Retirement from Tennis

In 2020, Maria Sharapova retired from professional tennis.

2020: 2020 Season

In 2020, Sharapova participated in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi and later received a wildcard at the Brisbane International. She also participated in the Kooyong Classic. At the 2020 Australian Open, she was defeated in the first round, leading to her ranking falling to no. 369, her lowest since August 2002.

2021: Blackstone Acquires Majority Stake in Supergoop

It was reported in 2021 that Blackstone had bought a majority stake in Supergoop, a sunscreen brand Maria Sharapova had previously invested in.

March 2022: Speaks out against Russian invasion of Ukraine

In early March 2022, Sharapova spoke out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also pledged a donation to the 'Save the Children' organization helping Ukrainian children impacted by the war.