WATCH: Maria Sharapova reveals how Martina Navratilova influenced her to leave Russia for her tennis career

During an interview with John McEnroe, Sharapova revealed the conversation her father and Navratilova had which led to them going to the US for her training.

WATCH: Maria Sharapova reveals how Martina Navratilova influenced her to leave Russia for her tennis career

Martina Navratilova and Maria Sharapova (Image via Reuters)

In a recent interview with John McEnroe on his show ‘McEnroe’s places’, former women’s World No. 1 singles player Maria Sharapova opened up about her childhood, playing tennis in Moscow, Russia. She shared an interesting incident about her childhood where tennis legend Martina Navratilova recognized her talent during a coaching camp and persuaded her father to take her to the US for further training.

“I was 5 years old. There was a clinic being held for 200 children in Moscow. There was Martina Navratilova and hundreds of children running around. She came up to my father after she saw me hit a few balls and said ‘your kid is special’. My dad took her advice and basically said we’re getting out of Russia,” Sharapova revealed.

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In spite of the exciting prospect, Sharapova’s journey to be a tennis pro was far from easy. Being in a foreign country at such a young age without fully understanding English, not to mention the bullying she was subjected to by elder girls in the camp, were only some of the troubles Sharapova managed to overcome during her time in the United States.

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Living in a foreign country during childhood brought its own challenges, recalls Sharapova

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova (Credits: US Open and Reuters)

Sharapova also revealed that her initial two years were particularly difficult, given how she couldn’t see her mother. “My mom stayed behind for the first 2 years. (She) couldn’t get a visa,” said Sharapova.

Her father was her constant beam of support during these crucial points of her junior career. However, living alone with her father brought its own set of funny challenges, as Sharapova fondly recalls. “My dad would cut my hair and it would be so crooked and disorganized,” she recalled, laughing.

That one brave move taken by Sharapova’s father on the advice of Navratilova definitely paid its dividends. Sharapova has, for the past two decades, been amongst the most notable faces on the women’s tennis tour. Having won 5 Grand Slam titles (including one at each major) during an era of the Williams sisters’ dominance, Sharapova remains amongst the most famous and influential women athletes ever, even after retirement.

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