Maria Sharapova's Life
Maria Sharapova was born on 19 April 1987 in Siberia. Maria Sharapova's family had just fled from the Belarussian city of Gomel to escape the fallout from Chernobyl.
When she was just six, Maria Sharapova was playing in an exhibition game of tennis which also featured Martina Navratilova, who is reported to have advised Maria's father Yuri to send his daughter to Nick Bollettieri's academy in Florida.
And so, in 1996 Maria Sharapova followed in the footsteps of Anna Kournikova and left Russia to go to Nick Bollettieri's academy.
In 2001 Maria Sharapova turned professional on her 14th birthday. The following year was one of steady progress for Sharapova who moved from 532 to 186 in the WTA Rankings.
2003 saw Maria Sharapova win two WTA events and end the year at Number 32. Many saw in the right-hander great potential not just as a tennis player but also as a handle for marketing and sponsorship opportunities and she signed with IMG Models.
In 2004 Maria Sharapova won her first grand slam title (Wimbledon) and was named WTA player of the year.
2005 saw Maria Sharapova top two entirely different lists. Forbes estimated her to be the world's richest female athlete, and in August she became the first Russian woman to top the WTA rankings.
Sharapova has had run-ins with other Russian tennis players and has turned down offers to play for Russia in the Fed Cup, focussing on her own schedule instead.
Maria Sharapova's approach paid off in September 2006 when she won the women's singles at the US Open beating Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final.
It was her first grand slam title since Wimbledon 2004 and after her victory, Maria Sharapova said: "I'm still pretty shocked but thrilled I got to experience another Grand Slam win and that it's a different Grand Slam."
To win the US Open Maria Sharapova had to beat the world's No. 2, Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final, and the world's No. 1, Amelie Mauresmo, in the semi-finals.
Although not always a winner, Sharapova had been very consistent in 2006: reaching the semis or further in nine out of ten events.
In October 2006, Maria Sharapova continued in winning form when she beat Daniela Hantuchova to take the Zurich Open title.
In 2007, Maria Sharapova was named as a goodwill ambassador for the UN development agency, UNDP.
Sharapova missed a large part of 2007 with a serious shoulder injury.
In January 2008, Maria Sharapova won her third Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win over Ana Ivanovic in the final of the Australian Open.
In April 2008, Maria Sharapova gained her first tournament win on clay, winning the Amelia Island Championships.
Suggested other biographies: Martina Hingis | Mikhail Youzhny.
