About Maria
Posted on January 14, 2011
In the highly competitive sport of professional tennis, Maria
Sharapova's journey to become one of the top players in the world
symbolizes her determination, grit and champion's desire to
win. Her story is one of sacrifice, focus and extraordinary
talent.
An only child, Maria was born on April 19, 1987, in the Russian
industrial town of Nyagan in western Siberia. Her parents had
relocated from Gomel, Russia, to escape the aftermath of the 1986
Chernobyl nuclear disaster. In 1989, the Sharapovas moved
again to the Black Sea resort town of Sochi; it was here that Maria
developed a love of tennis.
Watching her father Yuri on the courts, four-year-old Maria
learned to play using a second-hand racket. Yuri quickly
recognized and nurtured his daughter's exceptional talent. In
October 1993, her gift was confirmed from an unexpected
source. Maria and Yuri were attending tennis clinics held in
Moscow during the Kremlin Cup when Martina Navratilova happened to
spot the six-year-old hitting balls on the court. Maria's
form and shots stood among the mostly older children. "She
has talent," the legendary champion commented to Yuri - and he took
her words to heart.
Struggling with how to help Maria reach her potential, Yuri and
his wife Yelena decided to take a chance and seek world-class
coaching for their daughter. In pursuit of this dream, Maria
and Yuri boarded an airplane to the United States in March 1995,
leaving Yelena behind in Russia to finish college and await a
visa. The odds were against the two from the moment they
touched down in Miami: neither spoke English and Yuri had
just $700 in his pocket, money he had borrowed from Maria's
grandparents. Several days and many bus rides later,
six-year-old Maria and Yuri arrived uninvited at IMG's Nick
Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Although the Academy's coaches immediately recognized Maria's
talent, she was too young to be enrolled as a full-time
student. Yet Yuri was not discouraged. Believing in his
daughter's talent, he settled in nearby Venice and coached Maria on
public and private tennis courts. For two difficult years,
Yuri worked odd jobs while Maria competed in local tournaments and
began to accumulate victories.
In December 1995, perseverance paid off -- Maria received a
scholarship to the Academy and became a full-time student.
The nine-year-old lived on the prestigious campus for seven months,
seeing her father only on weekends. Her separation from him,
combined with constant teasing by dorm-mates nearly twice her age,
forever impacted Maria but also intensified her resolve to
succeed.
After obtaining a U.S. visa, Yelena finally reunited with Maria
and Yuri in June 1996. Maria moved out of the dorms and into
an apartment with her parents while she continued to perfect her
tennis skills at the academy.
In November 2000, 13-year-old Maria exploded onto the world
tennis stage with an impressive win in the Girls' 16-and-under
Eddie Herr Championships. Her first professional tournament
quickly followed in April 2001 and her first WTA tournament in
2002.
In a highly competitive sport where many try but few succeed,
Maria Sharapova's drive and determination will inspire young girls
for years to come. From her 2004 Wimbledon championship, to
being the first Russian female to ever claim the #1 ranking in the
world, to being the fifth youngest female to ever hold the #1 spot,
to her growing list of corporate endorsements, Maria symbolizes
what hard work, world-class training and unwavering commitment can
achieve: a front-row seat on the world's stage.