Maria Sharapova capitalised on injury setbacks to prepare for life after tennis: "When I was injured, or I had a break, I'd go to a business school"

After an exceptional career in tennis, Maria Sharapova has since moved on from her prior profession and is now focusing on projects away from the sport. This is not something new that has just started, planning for this a long time ago and using setbacks in her career like injures to better prepare herself for the future.

Involved with a number of programs and schemes, the 39-year-old has worked hard to leave herself in the position that she currently finds herself in. Her business ventures outside of tennis have helped her adapt to life following her abrupt retirement all the way back in 2020.

In an interview with the WSJ Leadership Institute, Sharapova unveiled her intentions to leave herself in the best possible position for when her tennis career dwindles to a stop, anticipating the day would come soon with a lot of preparation and work put in.

"I recognised from an early age that as a woman, my career would end much sooner than in other professions," Sharapova said. "I was like, 'I've got to hustle. I've got to start learning from other people.'"

Her career never lived up to the potential that many had expected following her breakout as a young talent, winning the Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old in a remarkable showing. While these injuries were hugely frustrating and hampered any progress made on court, she used this as an advantage while looking forward to the future.

"When I was injured, or I had a break, I'd go to a business school, I would take a few weeks. I would grow, I would take internships. I went to the NBA for a few weeks to shadow Adam Silver," she explained. As she got more financially secure, she looked to start making these investments that, in her words, would "turn into solid return on investment in the future."

Not wanting to just focus on tennis, she broadened her horizons. Basketball was the example she explained as she eyed up a chance to grow other industries. "There are elements of growth that even though you're progressing in one arena, I thought it was really critical and important to help grow in others."

As forementioned, that Wimbledon triumph in 2004 seemed to be the start of what would have been a glistening career for Sharapova. A five-time Grand Slam champion, she completed the career Grand Slam in 2011 when winning Roland Garros, taking home the title three years later once more. In 2004, she proved that Wimbledon title was no fluke after seizing the WTA Finals title as well. She also reached the final of the 2012 Olympic Games while winning the Billie Jean King Cup for Russia in 2008.

While she achieved so much in the sport, not all her career was jubilant with notable setbacks playing trade to making her what she is today away from the court.

Chronic shoulder issues were bad news short term, but Sharapova's motivation to improve and using the hindsight that her tennis career would not last forever, she made the most of this time out of the spotlight. Added to the injury ordeal, Sharapova was banned from tennis for 15 months after appeal for failing a drugs test back in 2016.

In the end, Sharapova has left herself in a pretty good position with a lot of businesses and work she is currently focusing on. A full-time entrepreneur, she leads her premium confection brand, Sugarpova, which she founded in 2012, most well-known for selling candy and sweets.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for luxury fashion house Moncler and actively invests in brands such as Tonal, Therabody, and Amulet. On top of all of that, she hosts her own podcast called 'Pretty Tough'.

With a tennis career relatively short, it will not take up someone's entire life. That means they have to constantly think about what is next. Whether they stay in tennis and become a coach or a pundit, or they move into the world of business in a fashion that Sharapova did, there are countless number of options for players to make that next step.