Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987 in Nyagan, a town in western Siberia, where her parents, Yuri and Yelena, had fled from Belarus a year earlier to avoid radiation from Chernobyl. Still too close to the disaster site, her family left their home as refugees again when she was two-years-old.

An only child, Maria was encouraged by her parents to try everything, from dancing and music to athletics. She discovered tennis after her fourth birthday, when a family friend—Kafelnikov’s father—gave her one of his son’s old Dunlop tennis racquets.

The Sharapovs had met Navratilova during an exhibition in Moscow. The tennis legend was happy to offer her assistance.

Maria and her dad made the trip from Russia to Florida with a scant $1,000 in their bankroll, scraped together from their life savings and gifts from grandparents and friends. Yuri also added to the small nest egg by laboring in the mines of Siberia. Bolletieri, sensed something special in her.

In 2001, at the age of 14, Maria turned pro and made her debut at an ITF event in nearby Sarasota. She continued to work at the academy all year in preparation for 2002, when she would play a full schedule.

Maria became the third-youngest Wimbledon champion of the Open era, and the first Russian ever to win the All England title.

In the season-ending WTA Championship, Maria beat Anastasia Myskina in the semis to set up a rematch with Serena which she won again.

At present, she is putting an end to her high school education through Keystone High, an online high school. She does photo shoots once in a while but her priority is tennis. Besides, she doesn't need the money, as she has very lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, NEC and Prince. Sharapova currently resides in Bradenton, Florida.