Unstoppable: My Life So Far

^{Five years old, on a hot summer day in Sochi, practicing on a public park tennis court. What happened to my shorts?}

^{Our first few days in Bradenton, Florida. Already out on some public courts behind a college. My dad looks like a stud!}

^{Someone handmade this skirt for me, and I must have worn it five days a week until it ripped. My dad didn’t know how to sew it back together.}

^{May 1994. My first visit to the white sands of Bradenton Beach, wearing a bathing suit my mom packed for me in Russia.}

^{My first ID at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy. My dad had to sign for me, as I didn’t have a signature of my own yet.}

^{This was Herald, my boxing coach. I was eight years old, but he didn’t treat me like an eight-year-old. I did boxing rounds with him and he would throw a ten-pound medicine ball at my stomach to tighten my core.}

^{With Robert Lansdorp. He’s smiling, but he’s probably about to make me run side to side until that basket is empty.}

^{First time meeting Mark McCormack with my parents.}

^{Estelle and me, on our favorite trampoline. Partners in crime, forever and ever.}

^{I was taking my time to get off the court. I’m guessing they kind of liked it.}

^{(Photograph by Alastair Grant, AFP Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{Disbelief. That first Grand Slam champion moment. At Wimbledon. Seventeen years old.}

^{(Photograph by Professional Sport, Popperfoto Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{Arriving at the Wimbledon Ball. Hair straight, no makeup. I look so confused, because I am.}

^{(Photograph by Ferdaus Shamim, WireImage Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{The morning after winning the Wimbledon championship, with the kids of the family who hosted us and my replica trophy.}

^{The first time I beat Justine Henin, and my only U.S. Open championship—so far. In my favorite Nike Audrey Hepburn–inspired dress.}

^{(Photograph by Caryn Levy, Sports Illustrated Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{Calling my father when I woke up from shoulder surgery. I look miserable. And felt even worse because the journey back had no guarantees.}

^{Carrying the flag at the London Olympics, 2012. I was the first Russian female to ever do so. I will forever be grateful for this honor.}

^{(Photograph by Christopher Morris, CORBIS Sports Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{Behind the smile of holding the silver medal in London was the wish to go for gold in Rio. It never happened.}

^{(Photograph by Clive Brunskill, Getty Images Sport Classic Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{When Grigor and I spoke about which picture of us to use for the book, it was inevitable that this would be our choice. Our first-ever picture together, on our first-ever date.}

^{This smile is why I practice every single day. The trophies are beautiful and rare but the smile is internal.}

^{(Photograph by Matthew Stockman, Getty Images Sport Collection; courtesy of Getty Images)}

^{Leaping into the air after my first French Open victory.}

^{(Photograph by Art Seitz)}

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My mother. There are not enough pages in a book to describe how special you are. For my sixteenth birthday, you bought me a pearl bracelet. A pearl is everything you stand for and bring to my life. Elegant and bold. Your love of literature inspired me to write this, although I am not even close to the level of the legendary authors you embrace. There was a time you hesitated about my desire to write this book, but I do hope that one day you will read it.

Father. You paved the road for me that I continue to walk on every single day. You never told me I had to be a winner. You never told me I didn’t. You simply guided me to be a champion. Not only did you take me to my destination, but you were there along the whole journey. Your stories are incredible, although your storytelling needs a faster pace. You can still be slightly annoying, and no matter how many times you tell me to put my phone away while eating, that will never change. I’m too old for that. I promised you I’d serve and volley once before you die. It’s coming. You’re still young.

Rich. I believed you were going to help me write this book seven years ago when I read one of your earlier works. I am so grateful for your humbling talent. And beyond grateful for your patience with all the male figures in my life. Thank you for living and breathing my life for this chunk of time. These pages would be a hot mess without you.

Estelle. I love you. Your name should be next to the words best friend in the dictionary. I will forever look forward to writing and receiving endless Christmas and birthday cards from you. And I know they’re not getting shorter anytime soon.

Max. Nineteen years and this is just the beginning of what we will accomplish together. I know you had more hair, fewer chins, and a more attractive waistline before you became my agent, but those are things money can pay for, right?

Jennifer. You believed in this book way before I ever did. Your confidence is contagious—a boss in capital letters! I want to be like you when I grow up.

Sarah. The passion with which you worked on this project is unforgettable. You believed in my life story from the very few paragraphs I put down on paper. No questions, no requests. You simply gave me the freedom to write this thing. Thank you!

A Note About the Author

Born in Nyagan, Russia, Maria Sharapova moved to the United States when she was six years old. At seventeen, Sharapova beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon. She reached the number one world ranking at eighteen, and has held that ranking a number of times since. To date, she has won five Grand Slams. She lives in Manhattan Beach, California. You can sign up for email updates here.

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