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Maria Sharapova has enjoyed her time away from the tennis courts by working on the businesses she has worked so hard to establish. During a recent article the Grand Slam champion wrote for Business of Fashion, Sharapova talked about how proud she was of other tennis players daring to open ventures outside of the courts.
But even if it's been rewarding for tennis players to launch businesses that could support them when they're no longer able to play at a professional level, there's still much work to be done. Here's what Maria Sharapova said about tennis players who have been encouraged to open their own companies:
"Olympic runner Allyson Felix founded her own sneaker label and women’s sports management firm; Simone Biles launched her own athleisure line through Athleta and Serena Williams started her own venture capital fund.
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"Younger stars are starting to reap the benefits, too. Naomi Osaka has founded her own production company and sports agency. Caitlin Clark became the first player to launch a signature Wilson basketball since Michael Jordan. And Coco Gauff has contributed creatively to her groundbreaking partnership with New Balance, even helping to design her own signature shoe.These shifting dynamics are encouraging, but there is still much work to be done."
Maria Sharapova stepped away from professional tennis back in 2020, but even then, the Grand Slam champion had already invested in several companies that have kept her busy in the last few years. She used to manage her Sugarpova confectionary brand a few years ago, before the project was taken into a different direction in 2021.
Sharapova has also invested in several other companies, including the UFC, Clio Snacks, Moonpay and more. The former professional tennis star is also a member of the Moncler Board of Directors. Sharapova has set an example for other players regarding what they can do with their prize money and sponsorship deals whenever they're not playing tennis.
Maria Sharapova's examples of Sports Investors
Maria Sharapova mentioned how Serena Williams has launched her own venture capital fund. The two players were rivals on the WTA Tour, with Serena Williams dominating most of the matches between the Grand Slam champions. Even if both Williams and Sharapova no longer play tennis at a professional level, they're both still very interested in what happens on the WTA Tour.
Sharapova also mentions in her article how Naomi Osaka has started her own production company to work on future entertainment projects. Osaka is currently looking to win her third Australian Open title in Melbourne. The Japanese star is looking to consolidate her companies, years before even thinking about retiring from professional tennis.
Coco Gauff was also mentioned in the article due to her successful partnership with New Balance. The American player is also looking to win more Grand Slams after conquering the 2023 edition of the US Open. The future looks bright for Gauff, who has managed to win important events on the tour at the age of 20.
