Celebrity of the week

Biography

Name: Maria Yuryevna Sharapova
Date of Birth: April 19, 1987
Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia (Siberian Region)
Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA
Nationality: Russian
Height: 6'2
Weight: 130 lbs. (59 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Clothing: Nike
Racquet: Prince
Endorsements: Speedminton, Motorola, Parlux Fragrances, Canon, TAG Heuer, Honda Japan & Colgate-Palmolive, Land Rover, Gatorade

PERSONAL
*Coached by her father Yuri Sharapov and Robert Lansdorp
*Mother's name is Yelena
*Started hitting tennis balls at age four; at six, participated in exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova
*Began training at Nick Bollettieri?s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA, at age nine (which required a two-year separation from mother due to visa restrictions and finances)
*Off-court interests include fashion, singing, dancing and movies (favorites are Mona Lisa Smile, Something's Gotta Give and Love Actually)
*In second year of high school and studies via an Internet school.
*Enjoys reading books in the Sherlock Holmes and Pippi Longstocking series.
*Prefers Russian and Thai cuisine
*Favorite dessert is French crepes with Nutella.
*Favorite drinks are orangina and virgin strawberry daiquiris
*Signed with IMG Models in November 2003


Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. At the end of 2006, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.

Sharapova's parents moved from Homyel, Belarus, to Siberia, Russia, in 1986, after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. She was born the following year in Nyagan, Russia.

At seven, Sharapova was brought to the United States by her father, Yuri Sharapov, to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Her mother, Yelena, who could not come with them because of visa restrictions, followed a few years later. Sharapova has lived in the United States since then but retains her Russian citizenship.

In 2002, Sharapova bought a beach home in Manhattan Beach, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, but lives most of the year near the IMG training

CAREER TITLES
Singles
2003: Tokyo & Quebec City
2004: Birmingham, Wimbledon, Seoul, Tokyo & WTA Championships
2005: Tokyo, Doha & Birmingham
2006: US Open
Doubles
2003: Tokyo, Luxembourg
2004: Birmingham
cility in Bradenton

HIGHEST RANKINGS
Singles: 1 (22/8/2005)
Doubles: 41 (14/6/2004)

BEST GRAND SLAM PERFORMANCES
Australian Open: Final
Roland Garros: Quarters
Wimbledon: Champion
US Open: Champion