Making spectacular history for one’s nation is the highest honor there is. That’s exactly what Mayar Sherif has stumbled upon. Bringing pure glory to her home country, the talented professional has been making waves in the tennis world for quite some time. However, her most recent laurel came at the Paris Olympics, where she became the first Egyptian to qualify for the Olympic Games. With Sherif becoming a tennis sensation, curiosity about her parents has surged.

The Pepperdine University of Florida alumni was raised in Cairo, Egypt. She descends from a family of culture and regard. Her parents, Sherif Ahmed and Amal Thabet Rana have provided the tennis pro with all the tools that assisted her in climbing the competitive ranks of the WTA Tour. Despite being an Egyptian resident, the 28-year-old has never formally voiced her ethnic legacy. Subsequently, this secret trademark is what magnets avid supporters, adding more features to her appeal.

Information surrounding her family background is very slim, and Sherif has personally ensured that by keeping a lid on her personal life. However, not all parts of her life are stowed away. Back home, the Egyptian has shared her life with three kin – namely Rana Sherif Ahmed, Karim, and Youssef Hossam.

“Oh my gosh, so many said I wouldn’t make it, 90 per cent of the people said I couldn’t make it,” Sherif told reporters after becoming the first Egyptian woman to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam at the 2020 French Open. Undeterred by past skepticism, she held her family in high regards. “The only person or two people were my parents, maybe one of my sisters, who always believed I was good, but that was literally it.

In 2023, the Egyptian caught the tennis world by surprise after showcasing a string of laudable performances at the Madrid Open.

Mayar Sherif was obsessed to trump over people outside of Egypt

Growing up in a family full of culture has its perks. Sherif looks to imbibe those features further by scripting better records during her time in the sport. And that’s exactly what she did at the 2023 Madrid Open. The 28-year-old was already the first Egyptian to perform in a Grand Slam when she took the Spanish crowd by storm. She was the only unseeded player to book a spot in the event’s quarterfinal.

While talking in a post-match presser at the clay-court event, Sherif opened up about the source of motivation. She notably highlighted what urged her to perform at such a demanding level despite facing struggles back home. “My choice. I was crazy to become a professional tennis player. Obsessed with beating people outside of Egypt. Life in Egypt is different. The culture, everything, it’s tougher. You have to achieve more just to get to the court. I grew up in tough conditions, played with a lot of pressure since I was very young. That’s where I got the fighting spirit.”

The talented WTA pro is scheduled to lock horns with Team Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in the Paris Olympics singles opener on Sunday, July 28. This much-anticipated clash will decide the Egyptian’s fate in the multi-sport event, and dictate her chances to bag a maiden gold medal for her nation.