Sharapova: “I knew tennis was a business at 11 years old”

Maria Sharapova gave an interview to the British newspaper The Telegraph in which she reviewed her career after announcing his retirement as a professional tennis player on February 26 at just 32 years old.

Sharapova wanted to review in the interview how her beginnings in the world of tennis were at Nick Bollettieri's academy in Florida, and confessed that an episode she lived with at the age of 11 made her understand that tennis was a business. “A coach knocked on the door and said: Could you go to center court and play tennis? Playing tennis at seven in the afternoon in the academy was not allowed and no one was allowed to play on the courts at that time. But I walked there and I saw several men in suits lined up. I was 11 or 12 years old, and it was the first time I felt that tennis was a business. “

However, for Sharapova this test was a stimulus that helped her grow as a tennis player and that helped her withstand the pressure. “At the time I didn't know what an investor was, I just remember thinking 'Wow, they called me'. For me it was like a match on the night shift at the US Open, where you were thinking, 'Oh, I like the feeling of being called to center court to be a tennis player they want to invest in.' I liked the pressure. “

Sharapova has always been criticized by many for her cold character off the track, although the Russian prefers to remove this label. “Well, I never thought of creating a 'Maria Sharapova brand'. I have always done things that I liked. The bottom line is that people determine who you are and what you do by the things they read and see. When I woke up every morning, my priority was to become a champion in my sport. “

The Siberian tennis player was also asked whether her retirement was considered after her meldonium doping case at the 2016 Australian Open. “When you win a Grand Slam and when you become number 1 in the world it is an incredible feeling and you have nothing to prove. Surrender is not part of my character. I have overcome numerous challenges throughout my career and Nick Bollettieri's journey from Siberia to Center Court at Nick Bollettieri's Academy is one of them. I wanted to improve “

The US Open will be the first Grand Slam to be played without the presence of Sharapova and, facing this event, the Russian highlights the courage and determination of a specific tennis player: the American Cori 'Coco' Gauff. “I remember when I was 13, Bille Jean King approached me for the first time. He told me: 'Whatever you do will not only shape your path, it will also shape the path of the next generation.' At that time it was not noticed. But I think that Coco Gauff is doing an incredible job and is using her platform to make a difference. I admire her very much. “