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The
WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) today paid tribute to Maria
Sharapova after the Russian star announced
her retirement
from professional tennis, having firmly established herself as one of
the sport’s all-time greats.
After winning her
first WTA title at Tokyo [Japan Open] in 2003, Sharapova etched her
name into the history books at Wimbledon in 2004 when, at only 17,
she defeated Serena Williams to become the first Russian champion at
the All England Club. Later that same year she overcame Serena again
to become the first from her country to win the WTA Finals season
finale, and by the following summer had become the first Russian
woman to achieve the WTA World No.1 ranking.
Following victories
at the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008, Sharapova
completed her career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2012 – the
sixth woman in the Open Era to achieve the feat, and the 10th
all-time. That victory in Paris also saw her reclaim the No.1 ranking
for a fifth time.
Sharapova was
triumphant at Roland Garros again in 2014, and captured at least one
title every year from 2003-2015, including notable wins at the BNP
Paribas Open at Indian Wells (2006, 2013), the Mutua Madrid Open
(2014) and the China Open at Beijing (2015). She also won the silver
medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
Later in her career
she enjoyed particular success on clay; in addition to her two Roland
Garros titles and victory at Madrid she won the Internazionali BNL
d’Italia (Rome) three times (2011-12, 2015) and enjoyed a hat-trick
of titles at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart (2012-14).
All-told,
Sharapova’s consistency and longevity produced nine Top 5 ranking
finishes, and 10 seasons inside the Top 10 overall. She steps away
from the game with 36 singles titles, a win-loss record of 645-171
(.790) and total prize money earnings of $38,777,962.
Maria
Sharapova – key statistics and notable achievements:
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Spent
21 weeks as WTA World No.1 – First ascended to top spot week of
August 22, 2005. At 18 years 125 days, remains the fifth youngest
woman to reach No.1 (after Hingis, Seles, Austin and Graf)
-
Posted
10 Top 10 season finishes – 2004-08, 2011-15 (including nine Top 5
finishes)
-
Winner
of 36 singles titles from 59 finals – Third among active players
for titles (behind S.Williams and V.Williams) and 15th on Open Era
list; also won three doubles titles
-
Won
at least one singles title 13 years straight from 2003 until 2015, a
streak only bettered by Graf, Navratilova and Evert
-
Five-time
Grand Slam champion from 10 major finals – 2004 Wimbledon (d.
S.Williams in F), 2006 US Open, 2008 Australian Open (d. Ivanovic in
F), 2012 Roland Garros (d. Errani in F to complete career Grand
Slam), 2014 Roland Garros (d. Halep in F); victory at Wimbledon made
her the second Russian woman to win a Grand Slam title, after
Myskina at 2004 Roland Garros
-
WTA
Finals singles champion – Won event on debut at Los Angeles in
2004 (d. S.Williams in F); qualified for the season finale on nine
occasions and was also a two-time runner-up (2007, 2012)
-
Olympic
silver medalist – London 2012 (l. S.Williams in F)
-
Posted
98 wins over Top 10 opponents – Including seven wins over reigning
No.1s. En route to winning the 2006 US Open title, defeated World
No.1 Mauresmo in SF and World No.2 Henin in F
-
Fed
Cup highlights – Made debut for Russia in 2008 quarterfinal round
with further nominations in 2011, 2012 and 2015 for a 7-1 singles
record; went 2-0 vs. Czech Republic in 2015 final (tie won by
Czechs, 3-2)
-
Prize
money of $38,777,962 – Third on all-time list (behind S.Williams
and V.Williams)
-
WTA
Awards – Most Impressive Newcomer (2003), Most Improved Player
(2004), Player of the Year (2004)
-
Professional
milestones – First pro event contested was ITF/Sarasota, FL-USA in
2001; made WTA main draw debut as a wild card at 2003 Indian Wells.
Won final title at Tianjin Open in October 2017
Text from WTA
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