Is Maria Sharapova a United States Citizen?

Former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova played professional tennis from 2001 to 2020. Throughout her career, she has only had one country, Russia, which is her place of birth. However, since 1994, she has been living in the United States. Fans are probably confused right now and are asking, that is Sharapova’s citizenship? Let’s find out.

Maria Sharapova and the United States

Maria was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russia. She picked up a tennis racquet at the age of 4 and went on to practice very regularly receiving her first lesson from veteran coach Yuri Yudkin.

When she was six, she attended a tennis clinic in Moscow, and there it was suggested that she move to the United States to train with Nick Bollettieri. This is why Maria moved to Florida in 1994, and since then, she has been living there as a permanent resident.

Why didn’t Sharapova become a US citizen?

Maria Sharapova has been living in the United States for over 20 years now, so why didn’t she become a citizen? The Russian star answered this question back in 2015. She said:

“I would have if I wanted to (change citizenships) but it’s never been actually a question in my family or in my team whether I wanted to change citizenships. It is about the family environment, it is about the rich culture. Just life experiences that I look back to and I know that for so many years I was shaped into the individual I was from those experiences. And not necessarily simply the country, but the people, the mentality and the toughness and that never giving up attitude.”

Russia is surely glad that Sharapova didn’t change her citizenship as she is one of their greatest athletes. She has won five Grand Slams, 36 titles, and in addition to that, she has also won an Olympic Silver Medal. Now, after her retirement, she is making a name for herself as a successful businesswoman.

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