Maria Sharapova
Tennis Player Date of Birth: 19 Apr 1987, Nyagan, Russia Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m) Maria Sharapova is both a Russian professional tennis player and the highest paid female athlete in the world.
Tennis Player Date of Birth: 19 Apr 1987, Nyagan, Russia Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m) Maria Sharapova is both a Russian professional tennis player and the highest paid female athlete in the world.
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987 in Nyagan, Soviet Union. She has won three Grand Slam Singles titles and at the age of 17, won Wimbledon by beating top seed Serena Williams. She was the number one player in the world in 2007.Sharapova began her professional career in 2001 but didn’t start playing tour events full time until 2003when she won three qualifying matches at both the Australian and French Opens.
Winning the wild card draw for Wimbledon that year, she was defeated by fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. She did however, finish that year winning the WTA Newcomer of the Year award.In 2007, Sharapova was the top seed at the Australian Open and was the first Russian woman to win the singles title there. She was eventually defeated by Serena Williams, but did reach the No. 1 ranking in the world.
Injuries and kept her off the courts and she finished that year with a World No. 5 ranking.Sharapova is scheduled to continue her professional play, but is probably best known for her many endorsements including: Canon, Sony Ericsson, Colgate, Gatorade, Land Rover, Nike, Tropicana and Tag Heuer.
She has signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Prince Sports, makers of racquets and other tennis equipment.She has graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and has been named hottest athlete in the world by Maxim magazine as well as being listed among People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world.She remains a Russian citizen but lives in Manhatten Beach, CA. She also has a home in Israel.
