10
Coach Vividly Remembers 9 Year Old Maria Sharapova
No comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Daniel Spatz had the privilege to coach Maria Sharapova between 1996-97 at the former Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (IMG Academy today). Maria, born on April 19, 1987, was nine years old then.
Little Maria was a part of a group of eight girls that Spatz coached every afternoon for two hours every day. Spatz said she “was noticeably the best of that group.”
Almost three decades later, Spatz can vividly remember Maria’s outstanding attributes.
“Amazing intensity. Unparalleled energy! Commitment to practice hard every day. She never needed a push from us… Amazing footwork…An intimidating aggressive style for her age then…Perfectionism at the highest…Selfishness, and high ego. Star like… Talent to incorporate any technical change required…Curiosity to learn new things…Never give up attitude when competing…She loved to repeat strokes endlessly…She always said: “I want to be number one.”
Maria turned pro in 2001 and won five Grand Slam titles, 36 titles overall, became world no. 1 in 2005 and won Olympic silver medal before retiring in 2020. Her final match was a first round defeat at 2020 Australian Open as a wildcard to Donna Vekic. It was her third straight first round loss at a Grand Slam.
Sharapova earned over $38m in career prize money, not including a $70m endorsement contract with Nike and other sponsorship deals that banked her over $18m a year at one point. Maria will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame next summer.
She became number one
Australian Open · French Open · Maria Sharapova · Nike · US Open · Wilson tennis · Wimbledon
