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Maria Sharapova has reacted to being inducted into the Class of 2025 of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. A proud Sharapova expressed her gratitude over receiving the honor and also thanked her fans, who played their part in voting the Russian into contention.
Sharapova made her WTA Tour debut back in 2002, and won her first WTA Tour-level tournament the following year at the Japan Open. She followed it up with another title at the now-discontinued Tournoi de Quebec in the very same year. The biggest success during her early career came at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, where she staged a shock upset over Serena Williams in the final.
The Russian would clinch four more Major titles, including the 2006 US Open, the 2008 Australian Open, and the 2012 and 2014 editions of the French Open. She also won 29 other titles on the WTA Tour and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 1. Sharapova was a successful Olympian as well, winning the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
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On Thursday, October 24, Maria Sharapova's place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 was confirmed. A video of this confirmation was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the official handle of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and it featured the Russian's reaction to the news as well.
Later, Sharapova reshared the video and captioned the post:
"Incredibly grateful to receive this honor. 🤍 A big thank you to The Hall of Fame, and to all the voters. Most importantly, this recognition is such a beautiful reminder of the deep appreciation I have for my fans. Each one of you made me reach for the stars ✨ and look at what we have achieved together. Thank you 🥹," Maria Sharapova wrote on X.
Sharapova announced her retirement in early 2020. Last year, she opened up about how it feels for her to follow tennis these days as a former player.
"I love having an outsider's perspective" - Maria Sharapova during her US Open 2023 visit
In 2023, Maria Sharapova spent time in New York to watch the action unfold at the US Open. During her brief stay in New York for the prestigious hardcourt Major, the former World No. 1 sat down for an interview with People, during which she spoke up about following tennis as an 'outsider'.
Sharapova claimed that she loves the experience. The Russian was appreciative of the things she learned from her tennis career.
"I'm very happy with where I am at this stage of life. I appreciate what the sport has taught me and where it's taken me, but I definitely love seeing it from the outside now. I love it. I love having an outsider's perspective. I love watching the new generations unfold, and the sport in general," Maria Sharapova told People.
Sharapova is widely regarded as one of the best competitors of her generation. Today, the Russian is a successful entrepreneur and is engaged to British businessman Alexander Gilkes. The couple became parents to a baby boy in July 2022.
