Maria Sharapova

Name : Maria Yuryevna Sharapova
Born : April 19, 1987
Country : born Nyagan, Russia
Lives : USA
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova was born in Nyagan, Russia on the 19th of April, 1987. Born to parents Yuri and Yelena Sharapova, Maria first starting playing tennis when she was just 4 years old.

When Maria Sharapova was just six years of age the famous tennis player Martina Navratilova noticed her talent and suggested to her parents that she move to the United States to receive professional tennis coaching.

After her first professional year in 2002 of playing tennis Sharapova was ranked 186th in the world. In 2003 her rankings improved greatly, with her highest ranking being 32nd in the world. In 2004 she continued to improve, being the second youngest ever to win the Grand Slam Wimbledon Championship and ended the year with $2,506,263 prize money earnings.