Video: Behind the Scenes at the Sports Illustrated Photo Shoot

Maria Sharapova Biographical Information

• Nickname: Masha
• Country: Russia
• Residence: Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
• Date of birth: April 19, 1987 (1987-04-19)
• Place of birth: Nyagan, Soviet Union
• Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
• Weight: 59.1 kg (130 lb/9.31 st)
• Turned pro: April 19, 2001
• Career prize money: US$12,169,281

Singles Career record: 305-70

• Career titles: 19
• Highest ranking: 1 (August 22, 2005)
• Grand Slams won: 5

Doubles

• Career record:23-16
• Career titles: 3
• Highest ranking: 41 (June 14, 2004)

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is a Russian professional tennis player.

A former world No. 1, she was ranked World No. 6 by the Women’s Tennis Association on September 22, 2008. To date, she has won five Grand Slam singles titles. In 2004, at the age of 17, she defeated Serena Williams at Wimbledon to win the final. She has since won the 2006 US Open, defeating Justine Henin in the final, and the 2008 Australian Open, defeating Ana Ivanović in the final.

Sharapova has represented Russia in Fed Cup, although her appearances have been controversial. She has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in Sports Illustrated. In July 2008, as a result of her success both on and off court, she was the world’s highest-paid female athlete.