"There were no cell phones then, it took a month & a half to get a letter" - When Maria Sharapova opened up about missing her mother early in career
Maria Sharapova once recalled the emotional pain of being separated from her mother, Yelena, early in her career. She deeply missed her, especially since there were "no cellphones" at the time, and letters took a month and a half to reach.
Sharapova began playing tennis at a young age and attracted the attention of Martina Navratilova. Taking the 18-time Grand Slam champion's advice, Sharapova and her father, Yuri, moved to Florida in 1994 so she could train at Nick Bollettieri's academy. Her father coached her in the early stages, helping to shape a career that led to five Grand Slam singles titles among other achievements.
When Sharapova and her father moved to the United States, her mother encountered visa issues that temporarily kept her separated from her seven-year-old daughter. It was eventually resolved, and they reunited shortly after that.
During a 2008 interview with Women's Health, Maria Sharapova reminisced about the challenges she faced early in her career and the difficulties of adjusting to life in America, saying:
"We were in a completely new world. It was like I was going on some adventure: Where am I? This is completely new: new people, new life, new food, and the first few years were basically about that."
"Now my mom and I talk on the phone every day. But there were no cell phones back then, so letters were our only form of communication. Sometimes it took a month and a half to get a letter back," she added.
The former World No. 1 continued:
"When I look back and ask myself if I could do that again, I think absolutely not. Just to remember it hurts sometimes. But those things have developed my character. I'm grateful for what I have because it was never just given to me."
Maria Sharapova: "I get a lot of things from my mum, I've always admired her"
In a 2005 interview with The Guardian, Maria Sharapova discussed her relationship with her mother, Yelena. She talked about how her mom taught her the value of education and gave her many important life lessons.
"I get a lot of things from my mum. I've always admired her. She's very down to earth and very intelligent in a lot of things she does. She's always taught me to be educated."
The Russian continued:
"I talk about everything with her. She's always the first person I call when I'm feeling down. You might wake up and feel like everything's wrong, you've been on the road for eight weeks and you've got another four to go, and of course I have those moments all the time. I call and say, 'Mum, I want to go home."
Sharapova retired from tennis in 2020, citing recurring injuries, particularly shoulder problems, as a key reason for her decision. Over her nearly two-decade career, she won five Grand Slam titles, among other achievements.