Maria Sharapova looks back on her career in the podcast
The former world number one, Maria Sharapova , has spoken in the podcast "Never stand still" about her tennis beginnings and the support of her family.
by Dennis Heineman
last edit: Mar 02, 2022, 02:12 pm
“Both my parents are actually from Belarus. Because of the Chernobyl explosion, they moved to Siberia, so I was born there. At the age of two we moved to Sochi, a much more comfortable city. That's where I started to play tennis. At the age of five I went to this small academy in Moscow, run by Martina Navratilova. She told my father we had to get out of Russia. The conditions for an athlete are much better in the USA, especially in Florida. In hindsight, I think those were the most important years. I was so lucky that I fell in love with this sport.”
"If I didn't feel any pressure, I would be worried"
Sharapova noted that some pressure on the pitch is normal. However, she added that it's the strong mindset that helps you overcome anything on the court. “Obviously when you go on the court you feel pressure. If I didn't feel any pressure, I would be concerned. You have to overcome those moments of uncertainty, no matter what phase of life you are in - and keep your feet on the ground. My parents helped shape that mindset," Sharapova explains. "My mom reminded me that for me it was about having fun. No matter how successful I became, it was about the impact and the improvement I could make every day made."
Sharapova won five Grand Slam titles in her career.