Maria Sharapova and Resilience to Remain in the Top Echelon in Tennis

Maria Sharapova is the richest woman in the sports world.

Maria Sharapova was recently seen playing in high heels at the 2015 American Express Rally in New York. The Russian was having some fun at the gala which marked the beginning of this year’s U.S. Open. After her Wimbledon loss in the third round, not much has been heard from Sharapova in gambling news. She was able to secure the Rome Masters title and reposition herself at world number two over Simona Halep.

• Sharapova traveled to the U.S. for training when she was seven
• The Russian first reached the world number one ranking at 18
• Maria still is still struggling from her shoulder and elbow injuries

Sharapova is the only Russian to have held the career Grand Slam consisting of victories at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Her 35 WTA titles positions her at third place for most among active players. The Russian star has been incredibly active winning at least one tournament a year since 2003. Her modeling assignments, sponsorship responsibilities and her various charitable work has kept her celebrity in perpetual motion.

Maria Sharapova’s early rise to stardom

Maria Sharapova was born in Nyagan, Russia in 1987. Her parents were from Belarus and moved away out of their concern for the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Sharapova’s father Yuri became friends with the father of Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the first Russian world number one player. The man would give Maria her first racquet that she played with at four years old. By the time she was six, tennis legend Martina Navratilova was impressed by the young Russian and recommended training in Florida.

Borrowing money, Yuri travelled to the U.S. with Maria to enroll her at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Maria trained while her father worked several menial jobs. Soon Sharapova signed with the International Management Group (IMG) and was giving the tuition fee for her education at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy. At 13 years old, the Russian phenom won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships for girls 16 and under and won the “Rising Star Award.”

A year later, Sharapova had her professional debut at the Pacific Life Open. Due to contract stipulations limiting her professional play, the Russian continued to play junior events where she reached the finals of the girl’s events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Sharapova ended her junior career at number six in rankings and had a record of 47-9.

Sharapova had her first full season in professional tennis in 2003 and was able to quickly progress into the top 50 before the end of the season. Although she qualified for the Australian and French Open, she lost in the first rounds of both. That year Maria won her first WTA title at the Japan Open Tennis Championships and another at the Bell Challenge. Her most impressive run was a fourth round appearance at Wimbledon. The progression of her career should’ve gained the interest of many online sportsbooks in the U.S. .

Maria Sharapova became a champion

In 2004, the Russian star advanced to the third round of the Australian Open where she lost to Anastasia Myskina. Entering the top 20, Sharapova progressed to the third round of the Qatar Telecom German Open and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Wimbledon proved to accelerate her career as she reached the Grand Slam finals by defeating Ai Sugiyama and Lindsey Davenport. Her victory over Serena Williams was considered the most stunning upset in memory.

As a result, “Maria Mania” was in full swing and for a brief moment tennis would be America’s national sport. Winning three of six U.S. Open preparation matches, the Russian progressed to the third round at the U.S. Open tournament. Her debut at the WTA Tour Championships was successful as she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, Myskina and Serena Williams to win the title. Trailing in the match, Sharapova’s brilliant defeat of Williams marked the last time the Russian would ever beat her.

Although Williams would have her revenge at the next Grand Slam final in Australia, Sharapova’s victories at Toray Pan Pacific Open and Qatar Total Open earned her a number three ranking. Reaching her first semifinal on clay at the Italian Open, the Russian lost to Patty Schnyder. Sharapova finally reached the WTA world number one ranking that year. The Russian failed to win a tournament in 2006 until Indian Wells. The height of her year was the U.S. Open where she won by defeating Justine Henin.

Although Sharapova remained competitive, she had a pair of shoulder injuries which hampered her in 2007 and 2008. After her rehabilitation in 2009, the Russian entered the tour the following year with a renewed fervor ending the year at world number 18. In 2011, Sharapova managed to get to the fourth round of the Australian Open. The next two tournaments Maria missed because of an ear infection. At the French Open she made it to the semi-finals, but lost to Li Na. The Russian matched her performance with a finals appearance at Wimbledon.

Although she reached the third round of the U.S. Open, it was Maria’s first final in three years. The Russian withdrew from the rest of the WTA Tour Championship because of an ankle injury. In 2012, Sharapova was able to regain the number 1 ranking after a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and a victory at the French Open. Currently, the Russian is still trying to control her serve due to her injuries. An additional elbow injury has made the star more cautious this year. Regardless, no punter out there should dismiss her when they bet on sports in the U.S.