Sharapova: Challenging Challenges
November 19, 2009
Grand slam title at the age of 17,first Russian female to claim the No.1 ranking in the world and the fifth youngest female to hold it, a career prize money of 13,032,675US$ at the age of 22 and the most searched-for athlete on Yahoo in 2005 and 2008; only Maria Sharapova can claim all of this.
A baby with racquet
Sharapova was laughing at challenges all through her life. Born on April 19, 1987 in Russia, she had to move from place to place with her parents to escape from the consequences of Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Watching her father Yuri playing tennis in the court of Sochi, where they relocated finally, four years old Sharapova took her first racquet.
Turning Point
It was Martina Navaratilova, the well-known tennis player, who noticed her potential as a future tennis player and recommended professional training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.
Her supporting and encouraging father wasted no time as he left for the US despite not being able to speak English. In 1995, at the age of eight, she was enrolled in the Academy which had brought up eminent players like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles and Anna Kurnikova. Her father took odd jobs, sometimes even dish washing, to help her.
Successful Career
Sharapova started her career of triumphs in 2000, with her first famous victory in the Girls’ under-16 Eddie Herr championships. She won her first Grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2004 and became the world no.1.Soon after her second Grand slam in 2006 US Open; a right shoulder injury caused her to drop out of 5.However she returned to win the Australian Open in 2008 and regained the no.1 rank.
Endorsements
In June 2007, Forbes magazine selected her as the highest paid female athlete in the world with an annual income of US$ 23 million, the majority of which was from endorsements and sponsorships. She was named one of the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world by People magazine in April 2005.
Beyond Tennis
What makes Sharapova different is her presence beyond tennis courts. Since February 2007, she has been a United Nations Development Project Goodwill Ambassador and has donated $100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects.
The overall lesson of Maria Sharapova’s life is expressed in her own words:”I’ve been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience.”
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