Maria Sharapova is best known as a very good tennis player, but it was never the only thing she wanted to do in her life.
Sharapova's journey in tennis was a very interesting one. She was known as a pretty big talent fairly early, and many wondered what kind of career she would have. It ended up being a very good one, though possibly not as good as some predicted.
The Russian found success pretty early in her career but then struggled to replicate that same success consistently. Her being willing to look past the sport didn't really help her as she explained in a recent interview.
When I gained success at a young age, I was genuinely surprised by how much interest there was in my life in every single lane.
I’ve had to stand up for myself many times. It wasn’t popular to be more than just a tennis player — to be interested in fashion, to have your own line. You’re in this sandbox, and you’re not allowed to play with anything else.
Still, Sharapova wasn't going to be stopped. She also explored her interests and options beyond the sport, finding success in that way. It was always going to happen because she knew fairly early on that her interests expanded far beyond hitting a tennis ball and competing on the WTA Tour.
It's not particularly common for tennis players but it's becoming the norm for former athletes as most of them venture into other fields. Even during the playing days, we see it more acceptable to expand your interest. Players now have partnerships and create their own lines, all things Sharapova had to fight for in the past.
I realized that tennis was a business vehicle for many opportunities. I wasn’t going to be fantastic at it, but I could be curious and I could learn about the future of sport and the future of business.
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