A star is born at 17
Sharapova is the third-youngest woman to win the Wimbledon singles title after Dod and Hingis Sharapova shot to stardom in 2004 aged just 17 when victory over Serena Williams saw her become the third-youngest woman to win the Wimbledon singles title. She would go on to become one of the most high-profile names in women's sport, winning 36 singles titles and earning more than $38m (£29m) in prize money. In 2005 she became the first Russian woman to become world number one and won her second Grand Slam singles title at the US Open the following year. But 2007 saw the first of Sharapova's struggles with injury, as she missed most of the clay-court season with a shoulder problem. She would return to form and fitness to win the Australian Open at the start of 2008, but a second shoulder injury kept her off tour for the second half of the season, meaning she missed the US Open and Beijing Olympics. In 2012, Sharapova captured the French Open at Roland Garros to become the 10th woman to complete the career Grand Slam, before winning Olympic silver in London. Yet another shoulder injury saw her miss the second half of the 2013 season, although she returned the following year to win her second French Open, and fifth and final Grand Slam.Meldonium ban
In March 2016, Sharapova told a news conference she had tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open. Meldonium, a heart disease drug, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016. Sharapova said she had been taking the drug since 2006 for health problems and was unaware it had been added to the banned list, insisting she had "not tried to use a performance-enhancing substance". She was banned for two years, later reduced to 15 months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She returned to tennis in April 2017, winning what would be her final career singles title at the Tianjin Open in October that year. Sharapova reached the quarter-finals at the 2018 French Open and the last 16 of the Australian Open at the start of 2019, but injuries and loss of form began to take its toll.'It was a pleasure to share the court with you' - reaction
Following Sharapova's announcement, hercoach Riccardo Piatti tweeted: "It's been an honour to have worked with such an amazing athlete and person. I'll miss her on court and outside. I'm sorry we couldn't work together for longer. But I know our paths will cross again and I can't wait for it. In the meantime, good luck with everything." Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova said it had been "a pleasure" to share a court with Sharapova. The Czech added: "We always had great battles when we played and I have so much respect for your hard work and the way you always fight for everything. You have achieved a lot in your life and I know this is just the start." Meanwhile, tennis legend Billie Jean King added: "From the day Maria Sharapova won her first Wimbledon title at age 17, she has been a great champion. A five-time major champion and a former world number one, her business success is just as impressive as her tennis achievements. Maria, the best is yet to come for you!" Reacting after his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Dubai Open on Wednesday, world number one men's player Novak Djokovic asked the crowd to offer a round of applause for Sharapova. "She is a great fighter, as dedicated as someone can really be in our sport," the Serbian 17-time Grand Slam champion said. "The will power and willingness to overcome the obstacle she had, with her injuries and surgeries and trying to fight to come back to the court and play at her desired level - it's truly inspirational to see what a mind of a champion she has. At the end of a fantastic career she can be proud of herself."The author of a truly iconic #Wimbledon moment✨
Farewell @MariaSharapova - it's been a career to remember pic.twitter.com/AArhq6Jup1 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) February 26, 2020
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