Maria Sharapova has opened up about why she hasn’t played tennis since retiring. The former World No. 1, who stepped away from the sport in 2020, has rarely been seen on court since, unlike many other retired stars who continue to appear in events.
Sharapova was recently interviewed by David Rubenstein, chairman of the board of directors of the Carlyle Group, on The David Rubenstein Show, where she discussed her journey from Grand Slam champion to Hall of Famer, her post-tennis life, and her investments in brands.
During the conversation, she also explained why she hasn’t played tennis since retiring.
"I guess the honest answer is I don’t want to be a sad version of my old self. Like, I knew what I loved about the sport was how quick it was, how reactive it was, how powerful it was. When you don’t play it for a long time, you don’t have that anymore," Maria Sharapova said (from 16:35).
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Later in the conversation, Sharapova admitted she had "never been very good at mixed doubles,” joking that she simply wasn’t great at sharing on court.
Maria Sharapova explains how 'stubbornness' helped her early in her career but became a 'flaw' later on
During the same interview with David Rubenstein, Maria Sharapova was asked whether, at any stage in her career, she felt ready to walk away at the top. Rubenstein noted that many athletes stay longer than they should. He wondered if she ever worried about holding on too long.
The 38-year-old explained that it’s a question every athlete answers differently.
"It’s a great question, and it’s one that I think every athlete finds a different answer to. Mine came a little bit later than when I would have liked," she said (at 17:35).
She admitted that the same stubbornness that once fueled many of her greatest victories eventually became a liability.
"I think stuff like stubbornness was a great quality that shaped a lot of my victories. But in the end of my career, I think it became a flaw because I was so stubborn to get healthy, for my shoulder to recover. I was also at an age where my body didn’t recover as quickly. And so for a year or two, that stubbornness got in the way of other great things in my life," Maria Sharapova added.
Sharapova enjoyed one of tennis’ most successful careers, rising to World No. 1 and winning five Grand Slam titles across all surfaces. She claimed 36 WTA singles titles, completed the career Grand Slam in 2012, and became one of the sport’s most marketable stars. She retired in 2020 after a 19-year professional career.
