Maria Sharapova: Trivia
- Maria is a natural lefty. At age 10 she played lefty for 6 months but then switched back to right. She sometimes hits left-handed forehands in matches.
- In February 2007, Maria was named a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and made a $100,000 cash donation to help with Chernobyl recovery projects.
- Has appeared on The David Letterman Show, The Jay Leno Show, NBC's Today and Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen Show, Inside Edition, ESPN's Sportscenter and Cold Pizza, Fox and Friends, CBS' Early Show and Craig Kilborn, MTV's TRL, Access Hollywood and the Tour's Magazine Show, among others
- Along with $1 million in prize money, was presented with a Porsche Cayenne S for winning the 2004 season-ending Tour Championships and donated the value (approx. US$56,300) to those affected by Russian school hostage crisis in Beslan.
- Signed her own fragrance deal with Parlux Fragrances in September 2004. Her own fragrance "Maria Sharapova" was launched September, 1 2005 .
- Has appeared on the cover of SI (first tennis player in over two years to do so) ESPN The Magazine, Forbes (listed as one of the richest female athletes in the world), Teen Vogue, Shape; also featured in People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People", USA Vogue, Vogue Italia, USA Today, Teen People's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World", W, YM and SPORT Magazine's "21 Athletes to Watch Out For in the 21st Century", among others.
- 2004 women's Wimbledon champion. Defeated two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.
- Born in Siberia, Russia, and raised in the United States since age seven. Father Yuri brought her to the U.S. in 1994, but mother Yelena didn't join them until two years later due to visa problems.
- She was (and still is) so ambidextrous that she almost became a left-handed tennis player.
- She won the 2004 WTA Championships, defeating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to pocket one million dollars and win a new Porsche Cayenne to donate to a charity of her choice.
- Her loudest grunt was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle or a lawnmower) on 21 June 2005 at Wimbledon Centre Court. Previously the loudest grunt was by Monica Seles at 93.2 decibels.
- According to the LA Times and Orange County Register, Maria said at a press conference she has grown a few cm this year and is now 6' 2". She's been having back pains and has had to pull out of some tournaments due to the pain which she thinks is from a growth spurt.
- Became number 1 in the world in August 2005 & is the first Russian player to become the best player in the world
- On the Forbes 2006 Richest Young Celebrities List, it is reported she earned $18.2 million in 2005. She was the highest-paid female athlete of the year.
- Named #19 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)
- Very close friends with fellow tennis player Maria Kirilenko.
- Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005.
- She defeated world #1 'Amelie Mauresmo' 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals and world #2 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the 2006 US Open to win the title and $1.7 million in prize money.
- Named #8 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).
- Ranked #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.
- In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $23 million.
