maria sharapova biography

Blonde, leggy, and beautiful. If those are the only adjectives you use to describe Maria Sharapova, then you’re selling the tennis world’s newest star short. While she may compare favorably to Anna Kournikova on the modeling runway, Maria is most dazzling when she steps on the tennis court. Her serve is overpowering, her ground strokes are penetrating, and her will to win is punishing. Maria officially arrived with her 2004 Wimbledon title—and she’s not likely to leave anytime soon. This is her story…
Maria Sharapova personal details:

Date of Birth
19 April 1987, Nyagan, USSR [now Russia]

Birth Name
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Nickname
Masha
The Siberian Siren

Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Biography
Maria started hitting tennis balls at the age of four. At the age of six, Maria Sharapova participated in a exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova. So, at the age of nine, she began training at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy located in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Therefore, during those two years, she was separated from her mother for two year due to visa restrictions and finances. Maria occasionally travels with her father and works with tennis coach managers Michael Baroch and Robert Lansdorp. During her leisure time off court, Maria's interest includes modeling in fashion, singing, jazz dancing and movies (Pearl Harbor (2001)). Maria enjoys reading books of her interest in the "Sherlock Holmes" and "Pippi Longstocking" collection series. Basically, Maria's favorite dessert is 'anything'. Maria favors Russian music and food, but except for Italian bread.

Trade Mark

Plays right -handed

2 handed backhand

Grunts loudly when striking the ball

Maria Sharapova Trivia:

2004 women's Wimbledon champion. Defeated two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.

Born in Siberia, Russia, and raised in the United States since age seven. Father Yuri brought her to the U.S. in 1994, but mother Yelena didn't join them until two years later due to visa problems.

She was (and still is) so ambidextrous that she almost became a left-handed tennis player.

She won the 2004 WTA Championships, defeating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to pocket one million dollars and win a new Porsche Cayenne to donate to a charity of her choice.

Her loudest grunt was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle or a lawnmower) on 21 June 2005 at Wimbledon Centre Court. Previously the loudest grunt was by Monica Seles at 93.2 decibels.

According to the LA Times and Orange County Register, Maria said at a press conference she has grown a few cm this year and is now 6' 2". She's been having back pains and has had to pull out of some tournaments due to the pain which she thinks is from a growth spurt.

Became number 1 in the world in August 2005 & is the first Russian player to become the best player in the world

On the Forbes 2006 Richest Young Celebrities List, it is reported she earned $18.2 million in 2005. She was the highest-paid female athlete of the year.

Named #19 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Very close friends with fellow tennis player Maria Kirilenko.

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005.

She defeated world #1 'Amelie Mauresmo' 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals and world #2 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the 2006 US Open to win the title and $1.7 million in prize money.

Named #8 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Ranked #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $23 million.

Personal Quotes

"I wouldn't say I'm in love with them." (about her endless legs)

Of course, because another three Slam titles will bring a lot more than $25 million, they would be worth even more [than $100 million]. (On whether she would give up her millions for more slam titles)

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Charlotte Edwards of England leaves the field after being dismissed during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
Lisa Sthalekar of Australia is run out with with a direct hit by Nicky Shaw of England during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
Nicky Shaw of England celebrates after she ran out Lisa Sthalekar of Australia with a direct hit during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
India's Mithali Raj plays a shot against Sri Lanka during their match in the ICC Womens World Cup cricket in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 12, 2009. Raj top scored with 75 not out helping India set a target of 137 run.
The Australian team celebrate after a wicket during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 round two group stage match between Australia and South Africa
(L-R) Jodie Fields, Alex Blackwell and Erin Osborne of Australia celebrate the run-out of Susan Benade of South Africa during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 round two group stage match between Australia and South Africa at Newcastle No.1 Sports Ground on March 10, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia
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Women's World Cup 2009 A three-way battle to stand on top of the world

Australia may have home advantage for the 2009 World Cup and the statistical benefit of being unbeaten in a one-day series since 2000, but as the world at large has been learning, numbers can mask a truer picture. They had to come from 2-0 down in their series with a strong New Zealand in February, while England have emerged as a force and held them to a draw in their backyard last year.

Being uncertain as to who will be the winner this time indicates a time of strength for the women's game. Australia, New Zealand and England are the three main contenders and have sides brimming with talent, desire and ability. They are the only teams to have won the tournament since its inception in 1973.

It would be foolish to write off India, the fourth main contender, and the beaten finalist in 2005. However, they have been on the wrong side against the three big players, with a 12-match losing streak stretching back to 2007.

This is where another number clouds the truth. India head into the tournament ranked at No. 2, based on their final appearance four years ago. Since then they have won eight and lost 35 against the top three. A more realistic billing on current form would be a distant fourth.

Australia are rightly No. 1 for their consistent record, and it is hard to split England and New Zealand for the No. 2 spot. What of the other contenders? Sri Lanka are only in their 12th year, but have already won more of their 70 games than they have lost, albeit against the lesser teams.

West Indies surprisingly took the final qualifying place last time ahead of the hosts South Africa. Since then they have hardly played international cricket, meaning that during last year's European tour the majority were debutantes. Their raw talents had a steep learning curve - and were boosted by further experience in Sri Lanka - and will head into the World Cup with some confidence and nothing to lose.

South Africa usually present a decent challenge, and have beaten some of the top teams already this decade, while the fellow qualifier Pakistan have managed only two wins from their past 23 matches. It's hardly inspiring.

Though many teams have not faced each other this millennium, video recordings of the warm-ups should assist with last-minute analysis. Not that any upsets are really expected.

As for the format, for the first time in World Cups there is a Super Sixes stage. The two groups of four will compete to move into the last six, with points from the group games carrying over. It means fewer matches of lower quality, with the bottom two sides knocked out quickly.

New South Wales won the right to host the tournament, although some group-stage games will be played in Canberra, which sits in the Australian Capital Territory. All of the matches at North Sydney Oval will be televised globally, giving the largest exposure for the women's game. They have put the most attractive fixtures up for showcasing, with only one contest there not featuring a top-four team.

Though North Sydney Oval is only the second non-Test ground to host a women's World Cup final the choice is sound. The ground offers intimacy and grassy banks and its smaller capacity should allow for better pictures of the crowds, rather than swathes of empty seats.

While we can't be sure how many will turn up, and we can't hope to know the eventual winner, one thing is for certain: this World Cup has the potential to be the most exciting yet. The batsmen are hitting harder than ever before, the fielding is generally of high quality and the mark for winning totals gets higher and higher. There is plenty of anticipation surrounding the most important tournament of all for the women's game.

by Jenny Roesler
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