Maria Sharapova is set to be one of the new inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, in a move that many will view as controversial.
Sharapova is one of only ten women in tennis history to achieve a career singles Grand Slam and topped the world rankings five times throughout her nearly 20-year WTA career, so there is no doubt that she achieved more than enough on court to deserve her place along the game’s all-time greats.
Yet her drug ban in 2016 left a stain on her reputation and many will suggest that should have affected the decision to add her to the Hall of Fame list.
The legendary USA doubles duo Bob and Mike Bryan are also being inducted into the Hall of Fame, with tennis legend Kim Clijsters welcoming the trio onto the elite list.
“I am honored to welcome Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan as the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025,” said Kim Clijsters, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Class of 2017 Hall of Famer.
“Beyond each of their historic accomplishments on the court, the Class of 2025 have had such a profound impact on the game of tennis and have inspired multiple generations of fans across the world. We look forward to celebrating them in Newport next year.”
Sharapova struggled with chronic shoulder problems and slumped to No 373 in the rankings before announcing her retirement in February 2020.
She wrote an emotive message to confirm her retirement, as she wondered how life would progress without tennis.
“How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love – one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys – a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years?
I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye.”
Sharapova will go down as one of the greats of the era – only Serena and Venus Williams have won more Grand Slam singles titles among current players, but her impact on court was trumped by her incredibly high profile off it, as the glamorous Russian was the world’s highest-earning female athlete for much of her career.
She made herself a global star by winning Wimbledon aged 17 in 2004 and added the US Open title in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008 before twice lifting the trophy at Roland Garros, in 2012 and 2014.
Then in 2016 came the bombshell announcement that she had failed a doping test for the cardiac drug Meldonium, which had been added to the banned list at the start of that year.
Sharapova was banned for two years, reduced to 15 months on appeal. She returned to action in April 2017 but was unable to reach her previous heights, peaking at a high of 21 in the rankings and reaching just one more Grand Slam quarter-final.
Sharapova cited last her 2019 US Open defeat against Serena Williams in the opening round, as a ‘final signal’ that her career was over.
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