Biography of Maria Sharapova

On the 19th of April 1987 a new tennisstar was born in Nyagan (Russia). At the age of four Maria picked up a racket and started playing tennis.


In 1992 Maria was spotted at a Exhibition Tournament in Moscow by tennis legend Martina Navratilova who recommends her Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Bradenton (Florida/USA).
Maria and her father Yuri Sharapova decided to follow Martina's advise and moved in 1995 to Miami (USA), and joined the Bollettieri's Academy. These where hard times for the young Maria, wich started a two-year separation from her mother who was left-behind in Russia because of visa restrictions and the family's financial situation.


By following her dream, to become an ultimate tennisstar, she sacrificed a lot of things. She barely saw her father for one year.



On her 14th Birthday Maria turned professional. Off court she develops interests in reading, fashion, dancing, stampcollecting and watching movies - her favourite movie is Pearl Harbor.
In the year 2002 she reaches the final of the Junior Australian Open, and enters the WTA world rankings at Number 532. At the end of the year she rushes the rankings at No.186!



Maria just kept on rising in the rankings, and in 2003 she made one's first appearance in the Australian Open and qualifies for the French Open. She also won her first titles at the WTA tour in Japan and Quebec. She ended the year 2003 ranked 32.

2004 is the year of Maria Sharapova, the 6ft tall Russian beauty reached the third round of the Australian Open where she sadly lost from another russian, Anastasia Myskina.
A few months later Maria was the shining star at Wimbledon. She shown Serena Williams her Russian power, and won Wimbledon (6-1, 6-4).



Today (09/25/2004) Maria is ranked 9 on the WTA World rankings, and believe me, within a few years she will be No.1.



• Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA

• Date of Birth: April 19, 1987

• Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia (Siberian Region)

• Height: 6' (1.83 m)

• Weight: 130 lbs. (59 kg)

• Plays: Right-handed



• Racquet: Prince More Attack

• Clothing Sponsor: Nike



Carreer Highlights


SINGLES

Winner

2004 - Birmingham

2004 - Seoul (Korea Open)

2004 - Wimbledon

2004 - WTA Tour Championships

2004 - Tokyo (Japan Open)

2003 - Tokyo (Japan Open)

2003 - Quebec City

2002 - ITF/Gunma-JPN

2002 - ITF/Vancouver-CAN

2002 - ITF/Peachtree City-USA

Semifinalist

2004 - Beijing

2004 - Memphis

2004 - Philadelphia

2004 - Zurich (Swisscom Challenge)

2003 - Birmingham

2003 - Luxembourg

Quarterfinalist

2004 - Roland Garros

2004 - San Diego

2003 - Shanghai




DOUBLES

Winner

2004 - Birmingham (w/Kirilenko)

2003 - Tokyo [Japan Open] (w/Tanasugarn)

2003 - Luxembourg (w/Tanasugarn)

Final

2004 - Memphis (w/Zvonareva)