Maria Sharapova: "Ultimately, I was an entertainer; it's such a beautiful feeling"
Maria Sharapova thinks she was not just a tennis player during her heyday, but also an entertainer of the masses.
The Russian is a proud holder of five Grand Slam titles, and her career of almost two decades has left a big impact on budding players around the globe. But Sharapova's career, although worthy of envy, was frequently hampered by injuries.
A recurring shoulder injury prompted her retirement in 2020. Since then, Maria Sharapova has involved herself in multiple businesses and has linked up with several platforms serving for the sport's greater good.
Most recently, the five-time Grand Slam champion was invited to the 2023 Cannes Sport Beach main stage, where she was asked about her thoughts on whether she feels people are familiar with the person she is.
In response, Sharapova expressed how she learned the sport was bigger than just collecting wins. She also said she was an entertainer at the end of the day, who helped people feel better with her performances.
"I feel like when you're an athlete you form a connection with people and fans. I realized when I was a little older that ultimately I was an entertainer. I wasn't just doing this for myself to win but when I when on to the court and I was having a really bad day, there could be somebody in the audience that was having a bad day themselves," she said.
Maria Sharapova went on to elaborate how her presenting the crowd with a good performance had a motivational impact on people.
"If I could turn that match around and show them on a bad day I was able to win or I was able to improve in front of their eyes, imagine how they'll go to sleep and think 'I had a tough day but this athlete in front of thousands of people was able to turn it around and inspired me to do that tomorrow," she said.
"That impact you try to forget because there's a lot of pressure with it but ultimately it's such a beautiful feeling to have that you can have inspiration on other people," Maria Sharapova added.
"I dont think anyone's journey begins at the victory lap when you hold the trophy" - Maria Sharapova
In the same interview, Maria Sharapova opened up about her humble beginnings, asserting that her family never thought she would one day be playing on the center court at the prestigious French Open.
The Russian wanted fans to know that success was never overnight, and that such journeys often began right from one's childhood.
"I dont think anyone's journey begins at the victory lap when you hold the trophy. I think it begins from your childhood, the way you're brought up," Maria Sharapova said.
"There's so many lessions on the court. For me personally, I started playing tennis when I was four-years-old. My dad enjoyed it and it was fun for him. I was born in Siberia. My family never thought that their daughter would make it to the Centre Court at the French Open," she added.