Sharapova, Five-Time Grand Slam Winner, Retires from Tennis

Maria Sharapova, the five-time Russian Grand Slam champion who became one of the highest-paid sportswomen in the world, announced her retirement at the age of 32 on Wednesday.

Florida-based Sharapova, whose Wimbledon victory in 2004, at the age of 17, propelled her to superstardom, broke the news in an article for Vanity Fair magazine.

"I'm new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis -- I'm saying goodbye," Sharapova said.

Her choice is hardly a major surprise as she has dealt with illness and poor form since she returned from a 15-month substance suspension in 2017, the result of successful meldonium tests at the 2016 Australian Open.

This year, the former world number has only played two matches, losing in the Australian Open's first round, with their ranking dropping to 373.

"Looking back now, I know my mountain was tennis. My route was packed with valleys and detours, but the views from its top were amazing," she said.

"After 28 years and five Grand Slam titles, though, I’m ready to scale another mountain, to compete on a different type of terrain."

Source: Reuters