Sharapova's performance against Vekic displayed glimpses of her lost glory. Maria Sharapova found a good way to recover as she set off for a Mediterranean vacation on the coast of Italy. She was then given a special distinction, the Rising Star Award, which is awarded only to players of exceptional promise. Here is a look at Maria Sharapova… Maria Sharapova’s career has crashed to its final crossroad, admitting she may be done with the Australian Open. Maria Sharapova played her last game as a top seed in 2015 when she finished runner-up to Serena Williams in Melbourne and the season as World No.4.Tuesday’s loss resulted in the 145th-ranked Maria Sharapova to fall more than 200 points and outside the top 350 of the WTA rankings. Others will, however, be able to leave with their heads held higher.Her decision to retire from tennis on Wednesday means the end of a career for one of the game's true bona fide stars who transcends the world of tennis from fashion star to global businesswoman.Maria Sharapova has announced her retirement from tennis after winning five Grand Slam titles during her career. 'MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: The umpire at the centre of last year's US Open final storm involving Serena Williams storm has been formally told he will be kept away from her matches.American tennis legend Serena Williams, 37, has all but confirmed she is ready to take on Maria Sharapova at next week's American Open starter, after suffering a back injury.The return of Serena Williams to the US Open promises to be barely less dramatic than her departure from it last year. During the post-match interview, Maria Sharapova said that though she could not predict the future, she would love to get herself into the proper form to compete in the tournaments she desires. 1 suffered her third consecutive first-round loss at the grand slams — a new career low.Having coughed up her only rankings lifeline when she failed to protect the rankings points earned with her fourth round appearance at last year’s Aussie Open — Sharapova’s legs have been taken out from under her.She is forecast to vanish from the World’s top 350-ranked players and come up for air next week with a WTA Ranking of No. Sharapova first hit the tennis scene in November 2000, when she won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at the age of just 13. Maria Sharapova has been excluded from the official Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. Sharapova made her professional debut in 2001 on her 14th birthday on 19 April, and played her first WTA tournament at the Pacific Life Open in 2002, winning a match before losing to Monica Seles. 03:24 GMT, Sep 02, 2020 Akhil Nambiar 1 ranking. She has announced she will be quitting tennis in an interview with Vanity Fair.The 32-year-old tennis pro's WTA ranking recently fell to No. Get the latest Player Stats on Maria Sharapova including her videos, highlights, and more at the official Women's Tennis Association website. She has not won a tournament since October 2017.Leading the Oscars glamour for the sports stars, Lindsey Vonn joined Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams as the entered the Vanity Fair party.Sharing a series of snaps of the evening, the group looked extremely glam as they rejoiced in their star-studded evening while also joined by a number of close palsMaria Sharapova withdrew from her second-round match at the WTA St Petersburg Ladies Trophy on Wednesday because of a shoulder injury Shocking footage has revealed the terrifying moment umpire Alison Hughes had to duck for cover after Ash Barty defeated v Maria Sharapova.MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Less than three years after playing a season of professional cricket, Ashleigh Barty has transformed herself into a national Australian tennis heroine.The Russian was booed by the Rod Laver Arena crowd after leaving the Australian waiting on the court in what appeared to be an attempt to halt her momentum.MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: What they call a Barty party in this neck of the woods broke out when Ashleigh Barty edged to a nerve-shredding win over Maria Sharapova.AUSTRALIAN OPEN DIARY BY MIKE DICKSON: The Australian Open is near the halfway point with plenty of wins and shocks.