Maria Yuryevna Sharapova, born April 19, 1987 is a Russian professional tennis player. A former World No. 1, she was on October 27, 2008, ranked World No. 6 by the Women's Tennis Association. Sharapova has won three Grand Slam singles titles. In 2004, at the age of 17, she won Wimbledon, defeating Serena Williams in the final. She has since won the 2006 US Open and the 2008 Australian Open
Sharapova has represented Russia in Fed Cup, although her appearances have been controversial. She has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in Sports Illustrated. In July 2008, as a result of her success both on and off court, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.
As of October 2008, she is coached by her father, Yuri Sharapov, and former player Michael Joyce. |
