3 bold quotes by Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is one of the best tennis talents of her generation and through her two-decade-long career, the Russian saw several ups and downs that translated into inspiring life lessons for her and her fans.
Her journey from making the difficult decision of shifting to the USA from Russia with her father to being one of the only ten women to achieve the Career Grand Slam reflects the kind of dedication and commitment that aspiring sportspersons try to strive towards.
Sharapova has often shared her life lessons and all that has enabled her to achieve great feats in her career at different points in her life.
Here are a few such inspiring and bold quotes by the former Olympic silver medalist and tennis star.
#3 "You always want to end your career or a chapter in your life on your terms and in your voice."
Maria Sharapova bid adieu to tennis in 2020 but a few years before that, the Russian was forced into a break from the sport when the World Anti-Doping Agency banned her from playing for more than a year after learning that she had taken a prohibited substance.
The Russian made her return to the sport in 2017 and speaking at a conference, shared what she had learned from her ban and her journey so far. She elaborated on how the ban could have ended her career before she wanted to and how that made her appreciate the sport's presence in her life even more.
She said (via CNBC):
"You always want to end your career or a chapter in your life on your terms and in your voice. And to be in a moment where you felt like it could have ended on someone else’s terms was very difficult for me to accept.”
She further added that this notion motivated her to remain mentally strong and fight for her career.
She added, “That’s why I fought so hard for the truth to be out. You don’t realize how much you love something, how much something means to you, until you lose it for some time."
#2 "Being true to who you are is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.”
2024 marked 20 years since Maria Sharapova's historic Wimbledon victory at just 17 years of age when the then-newbie surprised everyone by defeating Serena Williams to clinch the prestigious title.
Since her retirement in 2020, Sharapova has focused on building her foundation and raising her son. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar as part of a feature piece, the Russian talked about the current state of tennis and how she felt about being recognized as a fashion icon.
Interestingly, while talking about her stirring achievement 20 years ago, and what she learned from it at such a young age, Sharapova said (via Harper's Bazar):
“I think as someone who has achieved success at a very young age, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, but you need to acknowledge that there will be ups and downs in your career and you will face criticism. It’s just always important to be authentic to who you are – and not let the pressures of others or those on social media influence your actions. Being true to who you are is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.”
#1 "The only thing I can control is what I do out there. I’ve always preferred to walk the walk, and I’ve done that by winning five Grand Slams and being No. 1 in the world.”
In April 2015 when Sharapova's doping ban expired, her comeback to the tennis court was considered one of the most anticipated ones on tour. Her participation at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the first following the end of her ban, was attended by an enthusiastic audience.
After her first-round win, Sharapova expressed her excitement about being back on court and said (via the New York Times):
“It’s the best feeling in the world. Those first few seconds before you enter the arena — it’s been a stage of mine since I was a young girl and to know that I’d be walking back on it was really special. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
However, the decision to let an unranked Sharapova - an effect of the suspension - enter the tournament as a wild card was not received well by her contemporaries, many of whom expressed their displeasure over the same.
In response to the same, Sharapova, who had won the tournament thrice, said:
“I can’t control what people say, and I never have. The only thing I can control is what I do out there. I’ve always preferred to walk the walk, and I’ve done that by winning five Grand Slams and being No. 1 in the world.”
This approach of the Russian's to stand firm and play against all odds is what has driven her to a successful career. She has fought against injuries, negative comments, and several other challenges to be the top-earning female athlete for more than a decade in her career.