Maria Sharapova Business Woman

Written by: Staff on 27th March 2014

Maria Sharapova Business Woman |

With her ability to balance between the demands of her profession and the public relations and commercial side of the sport, Maria Sharapova is in a perfect position to see both sides of a WTA complex issue.

The four-time grand slam event winner has successfully combined her top tennis status with a fast-expanding business career, serving as brand ambassador for the likes of international global entities including Porsche and Tag-Heuer but also building her Sugarpova high-end sweets business.

But the 26-year-old has to stay light on her feet and versatile, an attribute that the WTA is trying to promote with their latest marketing campaign Strong and Beautiful.

“I think as players we want to be known for our strength on the court, because at the beginning of our careers that’s what we started off as,” Sharapova said as she progressed through the Miami event. “We didn’t start off with modeling agencies. We started off grinding on walls or in tough circumstances and tough situations where we had to grind out and become, you know, top professional players.”

As far as the LA-based Russian see it, the tennis always comes first, “We didn’t start in a promotional advertisement modeling world, that was never our job. There are a lot of people that can take care of those things.

“Our focus has always been the game and the opportunities that we are able to create with the game that we produce and the results that we produce. It’s fun. I have been very fortunate in my career to have the opportunities that I have.”

As the highest earner in all of women’s sport, Sharapova speaks from a position of authority. “But in terms of promoting us not just by being strong but beautiful, it’s not what’s on the outside. I think what we possess as athletes about being professional, about what we do on the court, and then all the other activities that we have, it’s not just about being a tennis player. There are so many other things that we have to be strong in, as well.”

Content via Bob Larson

Topics: Maria Sharapova, Tennis News, Wta