Maria Sharapova Thanks Mother for 'Showing World Beyond Tennis'
Maria Sharapova says that her mother always taught her to be disciplined, even as her father helped her with tennis.
There is a world beyond the limelight of international tennis and Maria Sharapova credits her mother Elena for helping the Russian superstar discover it. The World No. 3, who began training under her father since an early age, said her mother was always in-charge of the other aspects - which were especially crucial to her as a child.
Sharapova's close tennis association with father Yuri goes back into her childhood days. She, however, recently said that it was her mother who ensured that education never was a distant second to the sport.
"I spent a lot of time playing tennis when I was growing up and I was always around my father so I think my mother's biggest commitment was making sure I'd finished all of my homework on time and making sure I pursued my education," she was quoted as saying by UK's Daily Mail.
Education was not the only other thing that kept a young Sharapova busy.
"I remember how she would take me to the ballet and take me to art classes, which opened my eyes to a totally different world outside of being an athlete," she said. "She has shaped me in so many ways, from raising me, guiding me in the right direction, opening my eyes to the world around me and exploring it with me."
The biggest lesson that her mother taught Sharapova though was to remain disciplined all her life.
"Discipline allows you to set clear goals, and diligently follow a plan for achieving them. This is something my mother taught me and it is true no matter what industry you are in," said the now 28-year-old player.
Born in Nyagan (in erstwhile Soviet Union), Sharapova was presented her first tennis racquet when she was only four. Although her first coach was Yuri Yutkin -- a renowned Russian tennis mentor, Sharapova's tennis received close guidance from Yuri as well.
Yuri and Maria moved to the United States in 1994 where dad did meagre jobs to save enough for daughter to get into a tennis academy. Elena came two years later due to visa restrictions but Sharapova says that she has always, and continues to play a large role in her life.