Russia's Maria Sharapova announced her retirement on Wednesday at the age of 32. In a column published by the magazines Vogue and Vanity Fair, the former world number 1 declared “Tennis, I bid you farewell. After 28 years and five Grand Slam titles, I am ready to climb another mountain on different terrain. "
An extraordinary precocity
At the age of 5, Maria Sharapova kicked her first balls on the earth pitches of a small town in Siberia. The tenniswoman told in "Unstoppable " , her autobiography, that her precocity had pushed her father to leave everything, with 700 dollars ( Editor's note: 643 euros ) in pocket, to take him to an academy in Florida. A risk that paid off, because the Russian will become a professional in 2001, just 14 years old. One of the youngest professional players in the history of the pro circuit, will be one of the best 200 in the world the following year. Then, at 18, she will be the first Russian to become number 1 in the world.
A 15-month suspension for doping
The career of the highest-paid sportswoman in the world in 2015 came to an abrupt halt in 2016. Positive test with meldonium, a drug which contributes in particular to fight against angina pectoris and heart diseases, at the Open d 'Australia, where it failed in the quarterfinals, it was suspended from competition for two years.
The Russian explained that she had been taking this drug since 2006 to treat health problems and that she "did not know" that it had become a prohibited product since December 2015. Her suspension was then reduced to fifteen months after the Russian appealed to the Sports Arbitral Tribunal (CAS). When she returned to competition in April 2017, at the Stuttgart tournament, she lost in the semi-final to the French Kristina Mladenovic.
Repeated injuries
In addition to this sad affair, the tenniswoman was not spared from injuries. Back, chest, leg, hip, foot, calf, knee, wrist, thigh ... His entire career has been marred by repeated injuries. Those with shoulders contracted since 2004 have particularly marked her career, because she had to adapt her service to remain competitive.
A two and a half year relationship with Grigor Dimitrov
From late 2012 to July 2015, Maria Sharapova was in a relationship with the Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, currently 22nd in the world. A widely publicized relationship that obviously hasn't ended in the best way. Evidenced by their tumultuous exchange during a preparatory match for the Australian Open last month, which toured social networks. The player, then placed in the commentators' box, had thrown a spike at her ex in the middle of her match: “He is only looking in my direction. Can you tell him to stop? "
Dimitrov. 'You liked yellow on me. People change I guess. '
When did you guys broke up?
Sharapova. 'It's been awhile!' pic.twitter.com/kyev4KevVm
A well-stocked trophy cabinet
At the end of his career, the Russian ambidextrum holds thirty-five WTA titles, including five Grand Slam. Among them, two Roland-Garros, won in 2012 and in 2014. She also won a silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012, where she lost in the final against the American Serena Williams. In total, Sharapova will have spent twenty-one weeks as the world number 1.
