Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was among the guests in the royal box on Centre Court on Wednesday alongside her fiancee, British businessman Alexander Gilkes
Maria Sharapova was among the guests in the royal box on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Wednesday, but some tennis fans might not have recognised her at the All England Club.
Sharapova shot to fame in 2004 when she beat Lindsey Davenport in the final at the age of just 17 to claim the women’s singles title. The Russian didn’t just win at Wimbledon either, later claiming two French Open titles, one each at the Australian and US Open and an Olympic gold medal at London 2012. That makes her one of just 10 women who have completed the prestigious career Grand Slam.
Now 37, Sharapova has stopped competing and is coupled up with 44-year-old British businessman Alexander Gilkes. The couple have a son together, Theodore, and were invited to the royal box on Wednesday to watch the action on Centre Court.
At the height of her career, Sharapova had bright blonde hair, but has now gone brunette. Despite the gloomy British weather, she was sporting dark sunglasses as she watched her compatriot Daniil Medvedev take on Alexandre Muller in the first match of the day.
Thankfully, she and her fiancee were allowed into Wimbledon after Sharapova mocked his dress sense to her 5 million Instagram followers. Posting a photo of Alexander trying on some new clothes, Sharapova wrote: “Um, is this gonna be allowed in the club?”.
Gilkes then described his shoes as a “modern” twist on “classic casual”. But Sharapova joked: “They might ask you to go get a new pair of shoes. Can’t wait for a London membership club’s take on ‘Classic Casual’.”
Sharapova retired from tennis in February 2020, having earned $38million (£30m) in prize money over her career. Writing in Vanity Fair magazine, she wrote: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?
“How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years? I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis I’m saying goodbye.”
She has managed to find another pursuit in the business world, having become a member of the board of directors of fashion brand Moncler and embarked on other ventures including acting as an advisor to brands like Naked Retail and Bright.
Sharapova, who is now based in Florida, isn’t exactly struggling for cash, having earned an estimated £230m in sponsorship and endorsements over her career.