Maria Sharapova was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame

Maria Sharapova, one of the most popular tennis players and the first Russian woman to become world No. 1, thanks her fans for “reaching for the stars” after being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Five-time singles Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova and American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, who formed the most successful doubles team in history, have been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, organizers announced Thursday, Oct. 24 , with.

They will be officially inducted on August 23 at a ceremony at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Sharapova, one of only ten women to reach a singles Grand Slam in her career, became the first Russian woman to reach the top spot in the world rankings in 2005. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Incredibly grateful to receive this honor,” Sharapova, 37, wrote on X. “A big thank you to the Hall of the Fame and all the voters.”

“Most importantly, this recognition is such a beautiful reminder of the deep appreciation I have for my fans. Each and every one of you has made me reach for the stars and see what we have accomplished together.”

Known for never wanting to die despite regular shoulder problems, Sharapova was one of the sport’s most famous players. However, her image took a hit after it was announced in 2016 that she had failed a drug test.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation before an appeal led to her ban being reduced to 15 months.

She returned to competition in 2017 and retired in February 2020. This ended a career in which she won almost $40 million in prize money and became one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and one of the most well-known athletes.

The Bryans collectively won 16 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and were the top-ranked team in the world for 438 weeks.

The California pair won a professional record 119 titles together, including 16 Grand Slams, 39 ATP Masters 1000s and the ATP Finals title four times.

The Bryans also won Olympic gold in London in 2012 and were part of the 2007 USA Davis Cup winning team.

“Beyond all of their historic achievements on the court, the Class of 2025 has had such a profound impact on the game of tennis and has inspired multiple generations of fans around the world,” said Kim Clijsters, Hall of Fame President and former World No. 1 said in a press release. – Rappler.com