On July 3, 2004, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon. Maria was only 17 years old at the time, but she left no chance for the more experienced American Serena Williams (6-1, 6-4) in the final.
Two decades later, Sharapova returned to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. He is already a retired five-time Grand Slam champion and one of the richest athletes in the world.
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“I will never lose to that little piece of shit again,” Sharapova infuriated Serena, who burst into tears.
Maria walked through familiar places with her lover Alexander Gilkes and their little son Theodore, who will turn two on July 1. Among other things, Sharapova walked around the legendary Centre Court at Wimbledon, where she sensationally won 20 years ago.
Maria Sharapova and Alexander Gilks with their son Theodore at Wimbledon
Photo: From the personal archive of Maria Sharapova.
“My heart is full,” Sharapova wrote on social media, adding a heart and grass emoji.
It is evident that Maria remembered many pleasant moments during this walk. She shared them with her son. For example, she told him about the Center Court and showed him her name on the list of champions in the entire history of the tournament.
Maria Sharapova shows her son the places of her glory at Wimbledon
Photo: From Maria Sharapova’s personal archive.
Theodore is still too young to take the information seriously, but he definitely enjoyed the walk around the All England Club.
The boy’s special attention was drawn to the ball boys, who will be officiating the main draw matches at Wimbledon in a few days.
Theodore enjoyed watching the ball boys at Wimbledon.
Photo: From the personal archive of Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova also met with 17-year-old Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva. Maria and Mirra are often compared, and not without reason. Andreeva has achieved considerable success on the court at her age. Most recently, the young tennis player played in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and will now try to show an even better result at Wimbledon.
Probably, Sharapova gave Mirra some valuable advice and blessed her to win the title. It will be very symbolic if the 17-year-old Russian wins the grass Slam again in exactly two decades.
Mirra Andreeva and Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon
Photo: IMG Tennis social media
A couple of months ago, Sharapova predicted a great season and a great future for Andreeva.
“I think Mirra Andreeva will have a phenomenal year. I saw some of her matches in 2023. She has a strong character and tennis to back it up. I like her approach and how she feels about the game. I think she has a bright future,” Sharapova said in an interview with the official WTA website.
This statement was made immediately after Mirra’s defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the “thousand” in Madrid. A few weeks later, Andreeva took revenge on Sabalenka in a much more important match at the same stage of Roland Garros and was only stopped in the semi-finals by the Italian sensation Yasmine Paolini.
Now Mirra is aiming for a great result at Wimbledon. The young Russian’s goal is quite difficult. Once again, a meeting with the same Sabalenka is possible at a fairly early stage, but Andreeva has already tasted victories over her main rivals and on a good day she is able to stop anyone. Communicating with Sharapova and receiving her valuable advice can help in this process.
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Andreeva also previously spoke about Sharapova and her successes.
“When Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, I was 16 or 17, I’m not sure. I wasn’t born yet, so I didn’t see this historic moment. But it’s amazing what she and Anna Kournikova have done for tennis. I would like to see this moment, but I can’t,” Mirra said a year ago at Wimbledon after losing to American Madison Keys in the fourth round.
And a little later that year, Andreeva again remembered Sharapova in the context of Wimbledon.
“If we met, I would ask him how he felt when he won his first Grand Slam at 17.” Then I would like to know something more, but first I am interested in her feelings after winning Wimbledon 2004. Maybe people will say that I follow her path and do what she did, but I don’t focus on that. I have my own career, my own life. I will do my best to build a great career,” Mirra said in September 2023.
Andreeva had a great opportunity to personally ask Sharapova a question that concerns her directly at Wimbledon. Surely Maria answered it in detail. At the same time, Mirra emphasized that she is following her own path and creating her own legacy. She reached the TBS semifinals even before Sharapova, who stopped in the Roland Garros quarterfinals just before the triumphant Wimbledon 2004.
This does not mean that Andreeva will immediately win the title on the grass in London after a good result on the clay in Paris, but nothing is impossible for the young Russian. Mirra continues to progress and gain experience. She definitely has a great future ahead of her, just as Sharapova predicted.
