100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport >> Athletes

Maria Sharapova, Russia

Tennis

Maria Sharapova has done it all in tennis. She’s won each of the four Grand Slams, the Tour Finals, The Fed Cup – the only thing she hasn’t won is the Olympics, she has to settle for a silver medal there. She has been dogged with injuries throughout her time in the game, and the odd controversy, but is still third on the list of female players when it comes to prizemoney won. As she has reached the latter stages of her career, Sharapova’s off-court endeavours have become more apparent. That includes Sugarpova – a confectionery company now selling products in 22 different countries, and the Sharapova Women’s Entrepreneur Program to help mentor participants on how to scale their businesses.

– Sharapova’s professional debut came in 2001 at the age of 14.

– She has a rich history of charity work, forming the Maria Sharapova Foundation to help children achieve their dreams, and donating $100,000 to Chernobyl-related projects to name just two things she has been involved in.

– Sharapova was listed by Forbes as the top earning female athlete for 11 consecutive years.

Did you know…

Maria Sharpova left her homeland of Russia aged four, with her cash-strapped father, to head for the US after tennis legend Martina Navratilova had seen first-hand her talents and advised professional coaching.

“It’s inspiring to me to see how far women have come in the sports arena just in my lifetime. You see women athletes not just being awarded silent brand ambassadorships anymore — the women are entrepreneurial powerhouses as well, with their own unique personalities and brands.” – Maria Sharapova

Twitter: @MariaSharapova

Instagram: mariasharapova