Maria Sharapova, a tennis legend, has been immortalized in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This recognition has given her the opportunity to reflect on her successful career.
Sharapova, one of the ten women who have managed to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, became a star after her victory at Wimbledon in 2004, defeating Serena Williams in the final. She also won the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and Roland Garros in 2012 and 2014. In addition, she was the first Russian tennis player to reach number 1 in the WTA ranking. In 2008, Sharapova contributed to Russia’s victory in the team competition, currently known as the Billie Jean King Cup. At the 2012 Olympics, she won the silver medal in singles, losing to Williams in the final. In addition to her achievements on the court, Sharapova generated millions of dollars through sponsorship deals, participating in fashion shoots and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition. Sharapova retired in 2020 at the age of 32, after a 15-year career marked by multiple shoulder surgeries and a 15-month doping suspension, after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the initial two-year sanction, determining that her fault in the case was “less than significant”. Sharapova, visibly moved, toured the renovated Hall in Newport, Rhode Island, and expressed her enthusiasm for reconnecting with the key people in her career during the induction ceremony.Wow, there was a lot of sacrifice. There was a lot of hard work. And, wow, it was worth it.
Maria Sharapova
You feel like you have to walk through those hallways. You realize that you are a small part of something much bigger, the history of our sport and of all the athletes who have achieved what they have achieved.
Maria SharapovaIn the same ceremony, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who dominated doubles tennis, were honored. The twins won 16 Grand Slam titles, a record in men’s doubles, and spent 438 weeks as the world’s number 1 pair. The Bryans were also fundamental in the United States’ victory in the 2007 Davis Cup and won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.Patrick McEnroe, Hall president, was captain of the U.S. team that won the Davis Cup in 2007. Bob Bryan was captain of the U.S. team that failed to break the drought in Spain last year.Walking and seeing… all the people I idolized and their relics there, and then going down the hall and seeing our jersey that we wore in the Olympics is incredible. It’s humbling.
Bob BryanApproximately 16 hours before the induction ceremony, Sharapova reported that she had her speech written at 80%. The Bryans were debating whether to give one or two speeches.That Davis Cup and playing for your country in the Olympics, I know that was very important to them. Something that my brother and I grew up with, from our parents, was that if you ever had the opportunity to represent your country, you did it.
Patrick McEnroeI think I’ll improvise.
Bob Bryan
