Maria Sharapova is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 32 after five Grand Slam titles and time ranked No. 1.

She has been dealing with shoulder problems for years. Sharapova played only two matches this season and lost both.

In an essay written for Vanity Fair and Vogue about her decision to walk away from the sport, posted online Wednesday, Sharapova asks: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?”

She burst onto the tennis scene at 17 when she won Wimbledon in 2004 and would go on to complete a career Grand Slam with two titles at the French Open and one each at the U.S. Open and Australian Open.

The Russian, who moved to Florida as a child, served a 15-month ban after failing a doping test in 2016.

Since that suspension, Sharapova managed to reach only one major quarterfinal.

After so much success on the tennis court and off, so much time in the spotlight, Sharapova walks away having lost four consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments.

The latest came last month at the Australian Open, where she was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Donna Vekic. That sent her ranking tumbling outside of the top 350 — she is 373rd this week — and Sharapova has not played anywhere since.

She was asked after that defeat whether it might have been her last appearance at Melbourne Park, where she won the trophy in 2008, and she repeatedly replied with “I don’t know.”

But her right shoulder has been a problem off-and-on for more than a decade.

She played a total of 15 matches last season, going 8-7.

“I put in all the right work. There is no guarantee that even when you do all of those things, that you’re guaranteed victory in a first round or in the third round or in the final. That’s the name of this game,” Sharapova said after what turned out to be her final match. “That’s why it’s so special to be a champion, even for one time.”

Related Stories
‹
On the Porch: Steve Rao: Changing Political Landscape
This Week: Steve Rao is a partner at State Federal Strategies, a government relations and lobbying firm, focused on assisting technology companies on their government sales strategies, and is also a Political Analyst on PBS Carolinas Statelines and Black Issues Forum, and hosts the Leaders and Legends Podcast on Radio Nyra, the Triangle's largest growing South Asian Radio Station. 
Serena’s Choice: Williams’ Tough Call Resonates With Women
Written by JOCELYN NOVECK Serena Williams said it plainly: It isn’t really fair. A male athlete would never have to make the same choice. But after a trailblazing career that both transformed and transcended her sport, Williams, who turns 41 next month, has told the world she’ll soon step away from tennis to focus on having a […]
IOC Call With Chinese Tennis Star Peng Raises More Questions
Written by STEPHEN WADE A video call between Olympic officials and Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, whose nearly three-week disappearance from public view sparked an outcry, was meant to reassure the world that she was safe — but instead has raised more questions. Concern grew in the last week for the former No. 1-ranked doubles player — who […]
Chansky's Notebook: Venus Braver If Not Better
Venus Williams may have a better story than her sister Serena. Venus has reached her first semifinal at Wimbledon in seven years and is one match away from a fifth championship shot against Serena, who at 34 remains the No. 1 player in the world. Venus at 36 is the bravest, playing for the 19th time […]
Chansky’s Notebook: She Is The Greatest!
This is today’s Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook as heard on 97.9 WCHL. You can listen to previous Sports Notebooks here. Is Serena Williams the best and most accomplished athlete on the planet? How about you? Serena Williams never ceases to amaze me. At 33, she has already won two legs of the tennis grand slam […]
It's 'Jaguars Men's Tennis Day' in Carrboro
It’s officially Jaguars Men’s Tennis Day in the Town of Carrboro.
›