Former world number one star on the women's circuit, Russian tennis champion Maria Sharapova, announced on Wednesday February 26 that she is ending her career. "Tennis – I bid you farewell", wrote the 32-year-old Russian on her social networks and in a text published by magazines Vogue and Vanity Fair. "After twenty-eight years and five Grand Slam titles, I am ready to climb another mountain on a different terrain", said the winner of five Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open in 2008, Roland-Garros in 2012 and 2014, Wimbledon in 2004 and US Open in 2006)
Former World No. 1️⃣ @AustralianOpen 🏆 @rolandgarros 🏆🏆 @Wimbledon 🏆 @ usopen🏆 3️⃣6️⃣ singles titles We'll… https://t.co/90ykn520oV
Descended to 373e World rank at the start of the year, Sharapova, whose career was marred by a fifteen-month suspension for doping in the spring of 2016, remained on four consecutive defeats, including eliminations in the first rounds of the 2019 US Open against Serena Williams and the 2020 Australian Open against Croatian Donna Vekic, her last official match. Right-handed, the slender player born in Nyagan (central Russia) was also known for her cries which punctuated each of her shots, which had the gift of arousing the enmity of some of her opponents.
"Is it worth it?" "
“Throughout my career, 'Is it worth it?' has never been a question. Lately, it has been permanently. "wrote Maria Sharapova, whose last years on the courts have been wounded by injuries. "The shoulder injuries are nothing new to me – over time my tendons have frayed. I have had several surgeries – once in 2008, again last year – and spent countless months in physiotherapy. Just stepping onto the field that day seemed like a final victory, when of course it should have been the first step towards victory. "
A silver medalist at the London Games, the Russian seems to have found insufficient mental resources to regain her past luster, which has propelled her to the top of world women's tennis for more than ten years. Maria Sharapova has 36 titles on her record.
