Maria Sharapova Recalls Martina Navratilova’s 4-Word Message to Her Father That Turned Out To Be Prophetic As the Russian Embarked on an Unforgettable Tennis Journey

Maria Sharapova’s unquenchable thirst for victory, boundless talent, and obsession with tennis didn’t exactly come easily. She is someone who, when she was only five or six years old, heeded one piece of advice from none other than Martina Navratilova, that literally made her who she is today. But some things never change!

Even now, after retiring from the Tennis circuit, the Russian tennis star is grateful for the advice that literally changed her life for the better. Not only that but recently the five-time Grand Slam champion shared how, in 1993, she got the attention of a Czech-born American tennis legend.

Martina Navratilova’s four-word advice changed Maria Sharapova’s life 

Even after winning five Grand Slam titles, Sharapova’s early tennis life was quite different. Starting from how left Russia behind at the age of five with her father to pursue her tennis career in Florida. And in a recent conversation with John McEnroe for ESPN Originals, the Russian tennis is talked about how the 59-time Grand Slam Champion’s four-word advice was something that let them leave Russia.

She said, “I was 5 years old. There is a clinic being held for over 200 children in Moscow. There’s Martina Navratilova with hundreds of children running around. She came up to my father after she saw me hit a few balls and said, “Your kid is special”.”

And the reason behind this was that the circumstances for athletes are much better in the US, particularly in Florida. And after discussing a lot of things with her mother, Sharapova and her father left for Florida. While her mother stayed back for another two years. Nevertheless, without any doubt, that was the moment that changed the five-time Grand Slam Champions’ approach to the tennis world.

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Subsequently, last year, the 66-year-old tennis legend also shared her side of philosophy when she saw the young Maria Sharapova for the first time on the tennis court.

When Navratilova met Sharapova for the first time 

The 59-time Grand Slam champion recalls her first encounter with the Russian tennis star in an interview with the New York Times. When she visited Moscow, she recalled that someone had advised her to keep an eye out for this young child. And sure enough, Navratilova realized she could make it big in the sport when she saw her attitude and the sparkle in her eyes.

Although, Sharapova’s family left in dangerous circumstances as they were located near the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Despite these challenges, her parents tried their best to give her the training she needed. As a result, the five-time Grand Slam champion made sure to live up to their expectations. And became the youngest Wimbledon champion, having picked up a racquet at the age of four.

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