Sure. Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: Мария Юрьевна Шарапова; pronounced [mɐˈrʲijə ʂɐˈrapəvə] (listen); born 19 April 1987) is a Russian former world No. 1 tennis player.
She competed on the WTA Tour from 2001 to 2020 and was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for 21 weeks. She is one of ten women, and the only Russian, to achieve the career Grand Slam. She is also an Olympic medalist, having won silver in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics. She has been considered as one of the best competitors of her generation.
Sharapova was born in Nyagan, Russia, and began playing tennis at the age of four. She moved to Florida to train at the age of 14, and turned professional in 2001. She won her first WTA Tour title in 2003, and her first Grand Slam title at the 2004 US Open. She went on to win five more Grand Slam titles, including the French Open in 2006, 2012, and 2014, Wimbledon in 2004, and the Australian Open in 2008.
Sharapova was suspended from tennis for two years in 2016 after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. She returned to tennis in 2017, but never regained her former dominance. She announced her retirement from tennis in February 2020.
Sharapova is a successful businesswoman as well as a tennis player. She has her own line of candy, Sugarpova, and she has endorsement deals with several major brands, including Nike, Evian, and Porsche. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Sharapova is a controversial figure, but she is also one of the most popular and successful tennis players of all time. She is an inspiration to many young people, and she is a role model for female athletes everywhere.
