Passion or Profession: Tennis Player

Period: 1987–

Born in Nyagan, Siberia, Sharapova began playing tennis as a young child. At age nine, she moved with her father to the United States, where she attended the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Sharapova went professional at age 14 and in 2004 won a singles title at Wimbledon, becoming Russia’s first female champion in that competition. Her other major victories include a 2004 World Tennis Association championship title and a 2006 U.S. Open win. Sharapova is one of the world’s highest paid athletes thanks to the many commercial endorsements offered her.