Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: ????´? ?´?????? ????´????, IPA: [m?'r?ij? ??'rap?v?] ( hear); born April 19, 1987) is a former World No. 1 Russian professional tennis player. Sharapova has gained 22 WTA singles titles, 3 WTA doubles titles and 3 Grand Slam singles titles, including 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open. She was also runner-up at the 2007 Australian Open. She has additionally won the year-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in 2004. The Girls's Tennis Affiliation has ranked her World No. 1 in singles on four separate occasions. She regained this rating for the fourth time on May 19, 2008. She became the World No.1 for the first time on Aug 22, 2005. She is currently (as of January 2011) ranked World No.16.
Sharapova made her skilled breakthrough in 2004 when, at age 17, she upset two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams within the 2004 Wimbledon final for her first Grand Slam singles title. She entered the top ten of the WTA Rankings with this win. Despite not successful a serious in 2005, Sharapova briefly held the primary rating, and reached three Grand Slam semifinals, dropping to the eventual champion each time. She finally gained her second major on the 2006 US Open defeating then-World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo within the semifinals and World No. 2 Justine Henin in the final. Sharapova's 2007 season was plagued with a power shoulder damage, and saw her ranking fall out of the top 5 for the primary time in two years. She in the end gained her third Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, defeating Henin within the quarterfinals and Ana Ivanovic within the final. After reclaiming the number one rating in Could 2008, Sharapova's shoulder issues re-surfaced, finally requiring surgical procedure in October and forcing her out of the game for almost ten months. Sharapova returned in May 2009 and was ranked No. 126 in the world due to her intensive lay-off. Since her comeback, Sharapova has gained three singles titles (bringing her profession total to 22) and improved her ranking
