Maria Sharapova

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (born April 19, 1987) is a Russian former professional tennis player who achieved remarkable success on the international stage. Born in Nyagan, Russia, she moved to the United States at age six to pursue tennis training. Sharapova rose to prominence by winning Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17, becoming the third-youngest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era. Throughout her career, she won five Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open, French Open (twice), Wimbledon, and the US Open—along with an Olympic silver medal and the year-end WTA Tour Championship. Beyond tennis, Sharapova became a global brand ambassador and businesswoman, launching her own candy company, Sugarpova. At her peak, she was consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid female athletes. Though her career faced challenges, including a 15-month doping suspension from 2016-2017, Sharapova's competitive spirit and business acumen cemented her legacy as one of tennis's most successful and recognizable figures of the 21st century.