“I realised sport was business,” Maria Sharapova recalls how winning the 2004 Wimbledon finals against Serena Williams changed her perspective toward the sport

Sharapova, who was just 17 when she won the title at Wimbledon, talked about her final-round match with Serena Williams.

“I realised sport was business,” Maria Sharapova recalls how winning the 2004 Wimbledon finals against Serena Williams changed her perspective toward the sport

Maria Sharapova (Image via Open source/X)

Former World No.1 and five-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova first competed in the WTA Tour at the turn of the century in 2001. She went on to win her first Grand Slam just 3 years later at Wimbledon in 2004, beating Serena Williams. Sharapova recently revealed it was following her Slam victory that she realized the significance and broader influence of tennis.

Back in 2004, the Russian beat the now 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in straight sets, sealing a 6-1, 6-4 victory. The player, who was born in Russia, moved to the United States at the age of five, accompanied by her father. The former No.1 recently made an appearance on Bloomberg Live, where she stated, “I had a small talent and my dad had a big vision.”

YouTube video

Sharapova, who was just 17 when she won the title at Wimbledon in 2004, talked about her final-round match with Serena Williams. “There was a lot on the line. But as a teenager you’re not really aware of what’s on the line except a tennis match and perhaps a ball where you get to wear a nice dress,” she said. “It was a lesson in partnerships & winning,” the former World No.1 added further.

FS Video

A career Grand Slam winner, Sharapova talked about her life immediately after her clash with Williams. “Going back to New York & going through the media rounds, it was the moment when I realized that sport was more than just about winning and losing.That this was a business,” she said in the live telecast. Sharapova further revealed that following her Wimbledon victory, she realized tennis was more than a sport. And that players have a platform to voice their views and opinions.

Explore: Emma Raducanu out of BJK Cup, will play exhibition event in Macau

Maria Sharapova to pair up with John McEnroe at Pickleball event

Maria Sharapova announced that she will be pairing up with former pro John McEnroe in a pickleball battle against Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in the second season of the Pickleball Slam. The event will be played at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Miami, Florida.

Maria Sharapova, John McEnroe
Maria Sharapova, John McEnroe (Image: Open Source/X)

The Russian expressed her excitement about the upcoming match as well. “Dare I say I’m getting a little competitive. Slightly nervous and anxious,” the 36-year-old admitted in a short video clip she posted online.

Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from professional tennis back in 2020 at 32 years of age. She had been struggling with chronic shoulder issues for a few years. The player has 5 Grand Slam championships under her belt which include one each from the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, and two titles at the French Open.

In case you missed it: