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Maria Sharapova becomes mother: 5 unknown facts about her life - In Pics

Former World No. 1 and also the five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova became mother to a boy on Saturday (July 16). She and her fiance Alexander Gilkes have named their child Theodore, making an announcement on social media. The post got viral within minutes as Maria is quite a popular figure even after quitting the sport. We bring you five unknown facts about the gorgeous tennis star. 

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Maria Sharapova: Youngest Russian to win a Grand Slam
Maria Sharapova: Youngest Russian to win a Grand Slam

Maria was just 17 when she won the Wimbledon 2004 title. She beat the great Serena Williams then to clinch the title. She became the youngest Russian to do this. 

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Maria Sharapova was banned from tennis
Maria Sharapova was banned from tennis

Maria was banned for 2 years for taking a banned substance. Her tennis career came to a halt in 2016 when she admitted using Meldonium, which is a banned substance as per World Anti-Doping Ahency. 

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Maria Sharapova signed an endorsement deal at 11
Maria Sharapova signed an endorsement deal at 11

Maria is the first and possibly the only athlete to have signed her first endorsement at the age of 11. Usually athletes get endorsement deals when they reach  certain level, but not in the case of Maria as she was spotted early on, at the age of 11, when she signed a deal with Nike.

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Maria Sharapova was the most searched Athlete on Yahoo in 2005 and 2008
Maria Sharapova was the most searched Athlete on Yahoo in 2005 and 2008

Maria had talent and she was gorgeous, she ruled the tennis courts from 2005 to 2008, and off it, there were many modelling assignments as well. She shot for many magazine covers and all and that made her the most searched athlete in 2005 and 2008 on Yahoo. 

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Maria Sharapova's talent was first spotted by Martina Navratilova
Maria Sharapova's talent was first spotted by Martina Navratilova

Yes, you read that right. When Maria attended a tennis clinic in Moscow, Martina saw her playing and immediately reached out to her father Yuri and told him to take his daughter to IMG Academy in Florida which had produced stars like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles etc. Three years later, she was in the academy with a full scholarship. 





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