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Once a global icon in her heyday as a tennis superstar, Maria Sharapovahas undergone a significant transformation since hanging up her racket. The 38-year-old first made waves in 2004 when she clinched an unexpected victory over Lindsay Davenport in the Wimbledon final at just 17.

This triumph at the All England Club paved the way for her Tour Finals win later that year, and she went on to make history as the first Russian woman to secure the world No. 1 spot in August 2005.

Sharapova's illustrious career saw her bag four more major titles, including the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and the French Open in 2012 and 2014. Her Melbourne victory came after nearly two years without a Grand Slam title, in a tournament where she wasn't considered the favourite.

After toppling former world No. 1 Davenport in the second round, Sharapova outplayed then-world No. 1 Justine Henin, ending the Belgian's impressive 32-match winning streak. A semi-final triumph over Jelena Jankovic led to the 'Grand Slam' final against Ana Ivanovic, which Sharapova clinched in straight sets.

Beyond her prowess on the court, Sharapova also became a household name in wider society. In 2006, Maxim crowned the tennis beauty as 'the hottest athlete in the world' for four consecutive years.

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Her blonde locks and towering 6ft 2in stature made her a recognisable figure worldwide. However, since retiring from tennis in 2020, she's embraced a fresh look for the next chapter of her life.

Ditching her signature blonde mane, Sharapova has been rocking a brunette look for several years now. Her appearances at high-profile events like Paris Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards have given fans plenty of time to adjust to her new post-tennis style.

Since hanging up her racket, Sharapova has successfully transitioned into the business world. In 2023, she joined the Board of Directors for Italian fashion powerhouse Moncler.

In addition to her role with the luxury brand, Sharapova also lends her expertise as an advisor to brands such as Naked Retail and Bright. The former tennis star is quite active on Instagram, boasting a following of over 4.7million, where she shares glimpses of her latest ventures and her life as a mum.

She welcomed her son Theodore in July 2021. Her illustrious tennis career brought her immense wealth, earning £31m in prize money and raking in over £230m from lucrative sponsorship and endorsement deals with big names like Nike, Tag Heuer, and Tiffany.

Although she's officially retired from tennis, Sharapova made a brief return to the sports scene in 2024. She partnered with American legend John McEnroe in his Pickleball tournament, but the duo were bested by Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi at Pickleball Slam 2, missing out on the million-dollar prize.