Legendary coach Rick Macci has come to the defense of Maria Sharapova, after the retired star's former agent questioned her athletic ability.

Sharapova's former agent Max Eisenbud praised the Russian's mental strength in a recent interview, but claimed she was the "worst athlete" to ever win a Grand Slam title.

Macci fires back, praising Sharapova's athletic prowess

Several fans took to the former World No.1's defense, with Macci chiming in. The renown coach, who helped train Sharapova in her early years on tour, praised her athletic ability while questioning Eisenbud's talent evaluation.

"Maria Sharapova was a very good athlete," he tweeted. "Agents do deals and most have limited knowledge in talent evaluation. When we think of athletic skills we think running and jumping. Maria had incredible hand eye and her little steps were poppin the popcorn extra butter. Athletic ability is from your head to your toe! FIVE GRAND SLAMS/NUMBER 1 IN THE WORLD TRUST ME YOUR ATHLETIC!"