Rare Photos of Maria Sharapova

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 20, 2013

Rare Photos of Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova: 2001

Maria Sharapova has won four Grand Slams since debuting in 2001, including the 2012 French Open. Here are some rare photos of Sharapova.

Maria Sharapova: 2001

Sharapova holds the runner-up trophy after the junior girls singles final at the Australian Open. She fell 6-0, 7-5 to Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.

Maria Sharapova: 2002

Six months before her first career championship at Wimbledon, Sharapova takes on the competition at the Australian Open.

Maria Sharapova: 2002

Sharapova returns a ball during training before the Indian Wells tournament.

Maria Sharapova: 2002

Another pose by the 15-year old Sharapova.

Maria Sharapova: 2002

Sharapova lays out on a carpet of tennis balls before playing in Indian Wells.

Maria Sharapova: 2002

A 15-year-old Sharapova poses during a photo shoot in Indian Wells, Calif.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

During MTV's Total Request Live in the Time Square Studios, Sharapova plays Table Tennis.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

Sharapova entered the top 10 of the WTA rankings in 2004 after defeating top-ranked Serena Williams in the final at Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam title. With the victory, she became the third-youngest woman to win Wimbledon. Sharapova capped off a breakthrough year with another win over Williams in the final of the WTA Tour Championships.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography

Sharapova looks at her Sports Illustrated cover while backstage.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

As a guest of Matt Lauer and the Today show, Sharapova talks about her teenage success.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

Sharapova isn't too shy to hold the monkey, embrace her new fame and smile for the cameras backstage.

Maria Sharapova: 2004

Shortly after winning her first grand slam (Wimbledon) as a 17-year old, Sharapova did her media tours around New York City, including Live! With Regis and Kelly.

Maria Sharapova: 2005

In a rare visit back to her home country of Russia, Sharapova poses at a reception before the Kremlin Cup. Sharapova was 18 and the world's No. 1 player at the time.

Maria Sharapova: 2005

Theo Wargo/WireImage for London Misher PR

The Sharapova tennis cake was made for her 18th birthday, which was sponsored by Motorola at the Hiro Ballroom in New York City.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova serves against Kim Clijsters in Madrid at the WTA Championships in November 2006.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova traipses through the surf during her photo shoot for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was the only athlete to pose for the 2006 Swimsuit Issue.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova traipses through the surf during her photo shoot for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was the only athlete to pose for the 2006 Swimsuit Issue.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

After missing almost the entire clay court season due to injury, Sharapova returned in time for the 2006 French Open. Despite struggling to get through the first round, Sharapova recovered to advance to the fourth round before losing to Dinara Safina 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova has won over $21 million in prize money, ranking 7th all-time among female tennis players.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova models for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition of 2006.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

With the gorgeous Turks and Caicos beach all around her, Sharapova gazes into the camera for the 2006 edition of the SI Swimsuit issue.

Maria Sharapova: 2006

Sharapova was all smiles after knocking off No. 1 ranked Amelie Mauresmo 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals at the 2006 U.S. Open. She followed that up with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over second-seeded Justine Henin to claim her second Grand Slam title. The 19-year-old finished the year ranked No. 2 in the world.

Maria Sharapova: 2007

Maria is pictured with the United Nations Ambassadors at the U.N. in New York on Feb. 14, 2007. From left to right -- Belarus Ambassador Andrei Dapkiunas, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and Ukraine's Deputy Ambassador Viktor Kryzhanivskyi. Sharapova was introduced as Goodwill Ambassador to UNDP and the UNDP Chernobyl Projects, to which she pledged $100,000.

Maria Sharapova: 2010

WTA tour players (left to right) Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic pose at the Sony Ericsson pre-Wimbledon party at the Kensington Roof Gardens.

Maria Sharapova: 2010

Sharapova attends the pre-Wimbledon party at the Kensington Roof Gardens on June 17, 2010, in London.

Maria Sharapova: 2011

With the trademark red clay of the French Open underneath her, Sharapova smashes a powerful serve in 2011.

Maria Sharapova: 2012

Maria Sharapova goes full-extension for this backhand lob during the semifinals of the 2012 French Open at Roland Garros. She went on to claim her first French Open title, which was the last of the four major championships for her.