Maria Sharapova just made headlines again — not for playing tennis, but for handing over a trophy. On September 12, 2026, she stepped back onto Arthur Ashe Stadium’s court to present the US Open winner’s trophy, exactly twenty years after she won that same title herself. Here’s everything worth knowing about her life, her family, and why her name is trending in searches right now.
Background: Who Is Maria Sharapova and Why Is She Trending?
Maria Sharapova is a retired professional tennis player from Russia who spent more than fifteen years as one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. She won five Grand Slam singles titles, held the world No. 1 ranking, and became one of the highest-paid female athletes in history through endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Porsche, and Tiffany & Co. She officially retired from professional tennis in February 2020.
People are searching for her name today for two main reasons. First, she just appeared at the 2026 US Open final, a moment loaded with symbolism since it fell exactly two decades after her own 2006 US Open championship. Second, her name keeps resurfacing alongside updates about her business ventures, her family life with British entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes, and her 2025 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Latest Update
Sharapova attended the women’s singles final of the 2026 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 12, sitting alongside television personality Paris Hilton. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the title. After the match, Sharapova walked onto the court and personally handed Rybakina the Tiffany-designed championship trophy — a full-circle moment, since Sharapova won that exact tournament in 2006 as a teenager.
Beyond the US Open appearance, Sharapova has spent 2026 focused on her business ventures, including her podcast project “Pretty Tough,” which features conversations with accomplished women, and her ongoing work advising and investing in wellness and consumer brands. There is no confirmed news of any health issue, legal trouble, or relationship split involving Sharapova as of this writing. Any social media posts suggesting otherwise should be treated as unconfirmed until a credible outlet reports on them.
Good to know: Sharapova is not currently competing in professional tennis. Her recent public appearances are ceremonial, promotional, or tied to her business interests, not a return to the tour.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, a small town in what was then the Soviet Union. Her parents had moved there from Gomel, in present-day Belarus, partly to get away from the area affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. When Maria was three, the family relocated to Sochi, a Russian resort city on the Black Sea, where she picked up her first tennis racket. At age seven, she caught the attention of coaches at a Moscow clinic run by tennis legend Martina Navratilova, which set her path in motion.
Career Path
Sharapova moved to the United States in 1994 with her father to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, while her mother stayed behind in Russia for two years because of visa restrictions. She turned professional in 2001 and shocked the tennis world in 2004 by winning Wimbledon at just 17 years old, beating Serena Williams in the final. She went on to win the US Open (2006), the Australian Open (2008), and the French Open twice (2012 and 2014), making her one of only ten women in history to complete a career Grand Slam. She reached world No. 1 in 2005 and held that ranking for a total of 21 weeks across her career. She retired from professional tennis in February 2020 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2025.
Age
Maria Sharapova is 39 years old as of September 2026, having been born on April 19, 1987.
Religion
Sharapova’s religious beliefs have not been confirmed through any official statement or verified interview. This detail should be treated as unconfirmed rather than stated as fact.
Spouse/Partner
Sharapova is not married. She has been in a relationship with British entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes since 2018, and the couple got engaged in December 2020. They welcomed a son, Theodore, in July 2022. Multiple reports indicate the couple has said they are in no rush to marry, choosing instead to focus on raising their son and building their respective businesses.
Net Worth
Estimates of Sharapova’s individual net worth in 2026 range between $180 million and $220 million, based on various financial and entertainment publications rather than a single official Forbes figure. Some outlets estimate her combined net worth with fiancé Alexander Gilkes at more than $240 million. These are estimates only and should not be treated as exact, audited figures.
Parents
Her father is Yuri Sharapov and her mother is Yelena Sharapova, both originally from Gomel, Belarus. Yuri played a hands-on role in coaching and managing Maria’s early tennis career and moved with her to the United States in 1994, while Yelena joined them two years later once her visa was approved. Maria has no siblings.
Height
Maria Sharapova stands 6 feet 2 inches tall (188 centimeters), which was often noted as one of her physical advantages on court.
Education
Sharapova’s formal schooling took a back seat to tennis from a young age. She trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, starting in the mid-1990s, where academics were combined with intensive daily tennis training. She has not publicly detailed any university-level education, and no verified record of a college degree exists.
Hometown/State of Origin
She was born in Nyagan, Russia, and grew up mainly in Sochi before moving to the United States as a child. She currently splits her time between Manhattan Beach, California, and Florida, and has been a permanent U.S. resident since 1994 while continuing to compete for Russia during her playing career.
Official Social Media
You can follow her verified account here: Instagram – @MariaSharapova
Quick Facts Table
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maria Yuryevna Sharapova |
| Date of Birth | April 19, 1987 |
| Age (as of Sept 2026) | 39 |
| Birthplace | Nyagan, Soviet Union (now Russia) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Nationality | Russian; U.S. permanent resident since 1994 |
| Turned Pro | 2001 |
| Retired | February 2020 |
| Grand Slam Titles | 5 (Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006, Australian Open 2008, French Open 2012 & 2014) |
| Highest Ranking | No. 1 (August 2005) |
| Partner | Alexander Gilkes (engaged since Dec 2020) |
| Child | Son, Theodore (born July 2022) |
| Parents | Yuri Sharapov and Yelena Sharapova |
| Net Worth (estimated) | $180 million–$220 million |
| Hall of Fame | Inducted 2025 |
Unconfirmed claims to watch for: Rumors occasionally circulate online about Sharapova’s marital status, health, or a return to competitive tennis. None of these have been verified by a credible news source as of September 2026. Readers should treat such claims cautiously until confirmed.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Is Maria Sharapova married?
No, she is not married. She has been engaged to British entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes since December 2020, and the couple has publicly said they are not in a hurry to have a wedding.
How old is Maria Sharapova in 2026?
Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987, which makes her 39 years old as of September 2026.
Why was Maria Sharapova at the 2026 US Open?
She attended the women’s final and personally presented the championship trophy to Elena Rybakina on September 12, 2026. The moment marked exactly twenty years since Sharapova won the same US Open title in 2006.
What is Maria Sharapova’s net worth?
Estimates place her individual net worth between $180 million and $220 million as of 2026, built through tennis earnings, endorsement deals, and business ventures like Sugarpova. These figures are estimates from financial media, not an official audited number.
Does Maria Sharapova have children?
Yes, she has one child, a son named Theodore, born in July 2022 with her fiancé, Alexander Gilkes.
Why did Maria Sharapova retire from tennis?
Sharapova retired in February 2020 at age 32, citing her body’s inability to keep up with the demands of professional tennis after years of shoulder problems and other injuries. She had also served a 15-month suspension in 2016 after testing positive for a banned substance, which she said she had taken for years for medical reasons without realizing it had been added to the prohibited list.
Is Maria Sharapova still involved in tennis?
She is not competing, but she stays connected to the sport through appearances at major tournaments, her 2025 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and mentorship of current players.
Wrap-Up
Maria Sharapova’s story is really two careers in one. The first was on the court, where a teenager from a small Russian town turned into a five-time Grand Slam champion and the face of women’s tennis for over a decade. The second is happening now, off the court, where she’s built a business portfolio, started a family with Alexander Gilkes, and stepped into new roles like podcast host and startup advisor.
Her appearance at the 2026 US Open captures why she still matters to so many people searching her name. It wasn’t a comeback and it wasn’t a scandal — it was a quiet, symbolic passing of the torch, twenty years after her own breakthrough moment in that same stadium. That kind of long-term relevance is rare in sports, and it’s part of why her name keeps trending long after she stopped playing.
As with any public figure, it’s worth separating verified facts from social media speculation. What’s confirmed: her Hall of Fame induction, her engagement and son with Gilkes, and her presence at the 2026 US Open final. What’s not confirmed: any change to her relationship status, health claims, or a return to competitive tennis. Until credible outlets report otherwise, those should stay in the “rumor” column.
Thomas Andrew is the founder of Odubio.com, a digital platform sharing inspiring biographies, news, and stories about global icons and achievers.