© Getty Images Sport – Sarah Stier
Maria Sharapova funnily said that even she does not know what would be motivating enough to make her pick up a racket and play pro tennis again. Sharapova, 36, walked away from pro tennis after the 2020 Australian Open. Since then, Sharapova has become a mother and she hasn’t played any matches, not even exhibitions.
Nearly four years have passed since Sharapova retired but some fans still keep hope of seeing the former five-time Grand Slam champion on the court again. “What would motivate you to play in a tennis match again,” a fan asked Sharapova.
Sharapova answered: “That’s a really tough question. I don’t know the answer (laughing).”
Sharapova seems to be retired for good
In recent times, successfully returning to tennis after pregnancy has become a trend on the WTA Tour.
Sharapova, who welcomed baby boy Theodore last year, was asked about it recently. “I don’t know how they do it, I don’t see that in my future,” Sharapova said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast in September. Sharapova’s priorities have changed in recent years as the Russian tennis icon is focused on her family and growing business.
“I became a mother about a year ago which I think was one of the greatest accomplishments that I’ve ever experienced. I have an entirely new respect for motherhood and parenthood and just that this is the moment of how you like you know your body is experiencing completely different, your mind somewhere else.
That’s been challenging, rewarding because I’m also you know I’d love to work, I’m very ambitious. I’ve always had big goals about where I know I’ve set foundation in the business world for several years during my career and I knew that I wanted to take it to another level and grow.
But yet I wanted to come home and have this beautiful family and so yeah it’s just that it’s a bit of a juggle game,” Sharapova said.
