Five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, one of the most recognizable tennis players in the history of the sport, has been selected for the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. The Russian tennis icon will be officially inducted on August 23 next year, in Newport, Rhode Island, alongside the legendary doubles duo, the Bryan brothers.
The induction of these tennis legends results from a voting process, where leading journalists, historians, and current Hall of Famers cast their ballots. For the sixth consecutive year, fans were also invited to participate, and Sharapova garnered the highest number of bonus points from the fan vote, further solidifying her place in tennis history.
“Beyond each of their historic accomplishments on the court, the class of 2025 has had such a profound impact on the game of tennis and have inspired multiple generations of fans across the world,” said Kim Clijsters, president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and class of 2017 Hall of Famer. “We look forward to celebrating them in Newport next year.”
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… https://t.co/vRNp0JqR77
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) October 24, 2024
Sharapova expressed her gratitude on social media, sharing how deeply honored she felt to receive such recognition. She thanked the Hall of Fame and all the voters, stating: “Most importantly, this recognition is 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.”
Sharapova stands as one of only 10 women in history to achieve a career Grand Slam. Known for her fierce competitiveness and global appeal, the Nike athlete was a dominant force on and off the court, being named Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years, thanks to her tournament winnings and lucrative endorsement deals.
However, her career faced a significant setback in 2016 when she tested positive for banned substance meldonium, leading to a 15-month suspension from the sport. Sharapova returned to competition in April 2017, claiming her final title at the Tianjin Open in October of that year. She retired in February 2020, leaving behind an impressive record of 36 career titles, including five Grand Slam victories, and an Olympic silver medal representing Russia in 2012.
During her career, Sharapova held the world No. 1 ranking on five separate occasions for a total of 21 weeks and spent an extraordinary 408 weeks ranked in the top five. The 37-year-old joins tennis greats in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on 267 players and contributors from 28 countries. (source: WTA)