Five-Time Grand Slam Champion Maria Sharapova Retires From Tennis; Shares Heartbreaking Post! 

The tennis world and fans were heartbroken after five-times grand slam champion and former world No 1, Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from her career. She has been struggling with chronic shoulder problems and has also fallen to 373 in the rankings.  

In a recent emotional essay on vanityfair.com, Sharapova broke the news saying: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love – one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys – a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years? I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye," she said in her post.

In a amazing career, Sharapova won all four grand slams between 2006 and 2012. Not forgetting a second Wimbledon in 2014. 

Sadly, in March 2016 she revealed that she had tested positive for meldonium, after which she was banned for two years. The then broken Sharapova told the Guardian that “I felt trapped, tricked, but I figured all I had to do was explain myself. Meldonium had been banned for four weeks. At worst, I had inadvertently been in violation of the ban for less than 28 days. But I soon realised I was running into a brick wall. If I failed to win my case, I could be banned for up to four years. It would be the end of my career.”

When she returned back to where she belonged, Sharapova faced injuries that hampered her participation in tournaments.