Challenges Faced by Maria Sharapova: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Maria Sharapova. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

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

2003: Loss at Australian Open

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

2003: Earliest Wimbledon Loss

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

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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: 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.

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.

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: 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: 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.

January 2016: Failed Drug Test at Australian Open

In January 2016, Maria Sharapova failed a drug test at the Australian Open after testing positive for meldonium, which had been newly banned. This led to her provisional suspension.

January 2016: Failed Drug Test

In January 2016, Maria Sharapova failed a drug test at the Australian Open, testing positive for meldonium, a substance that had been banned effective January 1, 2016, by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

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.

June 2016: Suspension from Tennis

On June 8, 2016, Maria Sharapova was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) due to a failed drug test.

October 2016: Suspension Reduction

On October 4, 2016, Maria Sharapova's suspension was reduced to 15 months, starting from the date of the failed test, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

2016: Withdrawal from Brisbane International

In 2016, Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International due to a left forearm injury.

2016: Drug Test Failure in 2016

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

2017: Withdrawal from French Open

In 2017, Maria Sharapova participated in the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. However, due to a thigh injury and the French Federation's decision not to grant her a wildcard, she was prevented from playing in the 2017 French Open.

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.

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.