Sharapova says she is most proud of her resilience and ability to evolve. “I have always been someone who doesn’t give up,” she explains. “It’s important for me to grow and adapt, to be ready for the moment.” This mindset helped her overcome the toughest moments of her career and achieve spectacular victories, including her famous win at Roland Garros, even though she admitted she once felt “like a cow on ice” playing on clay.
For Maria, success is not about fame or money. It is about consistent effort and the drive to improve. “If you give your all every day and do it regularly, the results will come,” she believes.
If she could give advice to her younger self, she would tell her to see challenges as opportunities. Many obstacles in a career become the experience that opens new doors and proves valuable beyond tennis.
Today, Sharapova draws inspiration from working across multiple fields — business, design, wellness, and media. “I learn something new every day, often from people who are true experts in their field,” she says.
Her motto is simple but powerful: “One small step at a time.” This reflects her philosophy that big changes don’t require dramatic leaps, just consistency.
The most important book in her life is her own autobiography, which she co-wrote with Rich Cohen after reading Jerry Weintraub’s When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead. She admits that without faith in a team that could help her bring her story to paper, she might never have taken that step.
Her parents have always been her heroes. Her mother was her support and guide, while her father instilled in her a love of hard work, discipline, and self-belief.
If she could change one thing about herself, she would tone down her stubbornness. In sports, it helped her, but sometimes it led to unnecessary injuries and mistakes. “At the end of my career, I tried to return to my old form and be fully healthy — but that was impossible. It’s important not only to be persistent, but also to know when to let go,” she reflects.
If she could ban one thing in the world, it would be plastic. And her greatest luxury is antique furniture and lighting. Sharapova loves visiting markets and hunting for unique pieces that add character to a home.
The most valuable things she owns are those with sentimental meaning — like the pearl Tiffany & Co. earrings she bought with her mother after winning Wimbledon in 2004. She still keeps them and even wore them at her Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
If she had to choose one brand forever, she would pick Gabriela Hearst — because it reflects her style and values.