Maria Sharapova

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. She is currently the second ranked player in the world. At the end of 2006, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.

Sharapova has won two Grand Slam singles titles. She is the reigning U.S. Open champion, having defeated Justine Henin in the final of the 2006 U.S. Open. Two years earlier, she defeated Serena Williams in the final at Wimbledon.

Personal Life

Sharapova's parents moved from Homel, Belarus, to Siberia, Russia, in 1986, after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. She was born the following year in Nyagan, Russia.

Sharapova's father, Yuri Sharapov, brought Maria to the United States to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida when she was 7 years old. Her mother, Yelena, who could not come with them because of visa restrictions, followed a few years later. Sharapova has lived in the United States since then but retains her Russian citizenship.

In 2002, Sharapova bought a beach home in Manhattan Beach, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, but lives most of the year near the IMG training facility in Bradenton with her pomeranian, Dolce, who is featured in one of her advertisements for Canon PowerShot. Sharapova is good friends with fellow Russian tennis player Maria Kirilenko and actress Uma Thurman.

Career Titles

Singles

2003: Tokyo & Quebec City
2004: Birmingham, Wimbledon, Seoul, Tokyo & WTA Championships
2005: Tokyo & DohaDoubles
2003: Tokyo, Luxembourg
2004: Birmingham

HIGHEST RANKINGS

Singles: 2 (11/4/2005)
Doubles: 41 (14/6/2004)BEST GRAND SLAM PERFORMANCES
Australian Open: Semis
Roland Garros: Quarters
Wimbledon: ChampionUS Open: 3rd round

Awards

2003

* Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year 2004
* WTA Player of the Year
* WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
* WTA Player Service

2005

* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation
* Master of Sports of Russia
* Prix de Citron Roland Garros

2006

* Named the country's best female player for the year by Russia's tennis federation2007
* ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
* ESPY Best International Female Athlete

Maria Sharapova Biography

Date of Birth: April 19, 1987
Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia (Siberian Region)
Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USAWTA
Ranking: 4
Nationality: Russian
Plays: Right-handed
Racquet: Prince
Endorsements: Speedminton, Motorola, Parlux Fragrances, Canon, TAG Heuer, Honda Japan & Colgate-Palmolive
Favorite Movie: Pearl Harbor
Favorite Food: Russian
Favorite Book: Sherlock Holmes and Pippi Longstocking series Loves fashion, singing, jazz dancing and watching movies.