Maria Sharapova Returns to Wimbledon 20 Years After Historic Victory

Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis legend, made a triumphant return to Wimbledon's Centre Court on the 20th anniversary of her maiden Grand Slam victory. As a spectator in the Royal Box, Sharapova witnessed the action from "the best seat in the house."

"It's my first time as a spectator here," Sharapova remarked to Tennis Channel's Steve Weissman and Martina Navratilova. "I've never felt so relaxed or so glammed up to attend Wimbledon before."

Since retiring in 2020, Sharapova has rarely attended tennis events due to the pandemic and her pregnancy. However, with her son Theo turning two on the eve of Wimbledon, she has been making more appearances at Grand Slams.

Reflecting on her historic SW19 win, Sharapova has been featured in video tributes and has connected with rising stars like Mirra Andreeva, who has been compared to her.

"It's been nice to reconnect with tennis venues again," Sharapova said. "I still feel like I'm a competitor at heart, but being a spectator is a lot of fun."

Sharapova's fashion-forward style was on full display at Wimbledon, as she donned a head-to-toe Burberry ensemble. The honey beige wool safari shirt and trousers, paired with an ivy green bag and tortoiseshell accessories, paid homage to the tournament's English roots.

After her Wimbledon triumph, Sharapova went on to win four more Grand Slams and reach the world No. 1 ranking. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Sharapova's career was marked by 36 titles, but it was also marred by a 15-month ban in 2016 for testing positive for a banned substance. She announced her retirement in 2020 after playing her final match at the Australian Open.

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