maria sharapova biography

Blonde, leggy, and beautiful. If those are the only adjectives you use to describe Maria Sharapova, then you’re selling the tennis world’s newest star short. While she may compare favorably to Anna Kournikova on the modeling runway, Maria is most dazzling when she steps on the tennis court. Her serve is overpowering, her ground strokes are penetrating, and her will to win is punishing. Maria officially arrived with her 2004 Wimbledon title—and she’s not likely to leave anytime soon. This is her story…
Maria Sharapova personal details:

Date of Birth
19 April 1987, Nyagan, USSR [now Russia]

Birth Name
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Nickname
Masha
The Siberian Siren

Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Biography
Maria started hitting tennis balls at the age of four. At the age of six, Maria Sharapova participated in a exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova. So, at the age of nine, she began training at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy located in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Therefore, during those two years, she was separated from her mother for two year due to visa restrictions and finances. Maria occasionally travels with her father and works with tennis coach managers Michael Baroch and Robert Lansdorp. During her leisure time off court, Maria's interest includes modeling in fashion, singing, jazz dancing and movies (Pearl Harbor (2001)). Maria enjoys reading books of her interest in the "Sherlock Holmes" and "Pippi Longstocking" collection series. Basically, Maria's favorite dessert is 'anything'. Maria favors Russian music and food, but except for Italian bread.

Trade Mark

Plays right -handed

2 handed backhand

Grunts loudly when striking the ball

Maria Sharapova Trivia:

2004 women's Wimbledon champion. Defeated two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.

Born in Siberia, Russia, and raised in the United States since age seven. Father Yuri brought her to the U.S. in 1994, but mother Yelena didn't join them until two years later due to visa problems.

She was (and still is) so ambidextrous that she almost became a left-handed tennis player.

She won the 2004 WTA Championships, defeating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to pocket one million dollars and win a new Porsche Cayenne to donate to a charity of her choice.

Her loudest grunt was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle or a lawnmower) on 21 June 2005 at Wimbledon Centre Court. Previously the loudest grunt was by Monica Seles at 93.2 decibels.

According to the LA Times and Orange County Register, Maria said at a press conference she has grown a few cm this year and is now 6' 2". She's been having back pains and has had to pull out of some tournaments due to the pain which she thinks is from a growth spurt.

Became number 1 in the world in August 2005 & is the first Russian player to become the best player in the world

On the Forbes 2006 Richest Young Celebrities List, it is reported she earned $18.2 million in 2005. She was the highest-paid female athlete of the year.

Named #19 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Very close friends with fellow tennis player Maria Kirilenko.

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005.

She defeated world #1 'Amelie Mauresmo' 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals and world #2 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the 2006 US Open to win the title and $1.7 million in prize money.

Named #8 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Ranked #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $23 million.

Personal Quotes

"I wouldn't say I'm in love with them." (about her endless legs)

Of course, because another three Slam titles will bring a lot more than $25 million, they would be worth even more [than $100 million]. (On whether she would give up her millions for more slam titles)

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APRIL FOOD DAY - Bloggers Fighting Hunger

Thank you to Meg of Pigtown Design and Chris of Easy & Elegant Life for turning good intentions into action and organizing this blogger food donation drive.

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Their mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks - a donation of $1 provides 10 pounds of food and grocery products for hungry children and adults. CLICK HERE to donate, even a small amount can make a difference.

What's the picture of? That's my mom in my hometown's soup kitchen at the Episcopal Church at SS. Peter and John, which she ran as a volunteer for four years before moving to the Cape. The local food bank was very important to their efforts. Here's an excerpt from an acticle about the soup kitchen by Christopher Caskey of The Citizen.
(photo by Chet Susslin)

"On Mondays, she calls food banks to see what is available and form a menu. Tuesdays are for defrosting. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, she hits the sales for cheap food, and on Friday she makes last-minute changes to the menu...Each meal has to be balanced, she said. Every person is served soup, a main course, some kind of fruit, a vegetable and juice. However, that doesn't mean there is no variety.Homemade Reuben sandwiches were a recent hit. And people always gobble up a recipe she once found for spaghetti pie, Ginnerty said.“I wouldn't offer anything to my guests that I wouldn't offer to my family,” she added

Back in 2006 they served 6,500 - 7,000 meals a year. I can only imagine what the need is in 2009.

DC Designer Series: J.D. Ireland

Here's to more talented designers hailing from our nation's capital and this duo happens to be native Washingtonians - an occurrence that is more rare than common in this transient city. Joe Ireland and Julie Weber of J. D. Ireland Interior Architecture and Design are the talent behind these beautiful designs. I think elegant, comfortable and timeless are good descriptors for the rooms featured here. Love the screen and the black metal side table in the room above. (Photos posted with permission. Photography above by Scott Henrichsen)
Love the grey blue upholstery on this intricately carved wood bench. (photography by Scott Henrichsen)

(Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg)
Crisp and hip. The horizontal striped pillow is perfect. (Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg)

(photography by Scott Henrichsen)

The symmetry of this design serves this stately room well. (photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg)
If you would like to see more of their work in person here's some good news - J.D. Ireland are the designers for the Entry Hall, Stair Hall and Back Stairs in the upcoming 2009 DC Design House which runs from April 18th - May 10th. The design house is a three-story Victorian mansion located in Georgetown so I have a feeling the stairways are going to be quite impressive.

South Beach Living

South Beach, Miami, is known for it’s lively colors, lively people and fabulous design.  There are many hotels that have made news in the last couple years for their ingenious interior and exterior designs and the Mondrian South Beach Hotel Residences is one of them.

The Mondrian South Beach has undergone a $50 million renovation which included oversized studios, 1 and 2 bedroom hotel residences, penthouse hotel residences and four exclusive tower residences with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the ever-changing Miami skyline.

Developed by the Morgan Hotel Group and designed by Marcel Wanders Studio, the Mondrian South Beach has 342 residences in fifteen stories, a 40 slip marina with dockmaster, Agua Spa, a state-of-the-art gym,and a world class five star restaurant.

Marcel Wanders

The two story, 20 foot high lobby includes a signature 4,000 square foot bar flowing onto the pool deck creating a one-of-a-kind lounge/bar atmosphere overlooking Biscayne Bay.

Marcel Wanders, a world-famous design star and an original member of the influential Droog collective in the Netherlands,  conceived of the hotel as Sleeping Beauty’s castle.  Guests enter a garden area that leads to the interiors. The gardens feature comfortable seating areas, an outdoor “sand” bar, a hanging chandelier above the glamorous pool, and cabanas for all ages, including tented play spaces with a sandbox and bouncy toys in the children’s area.

The property is a stone's throw from her sister hotels Delano South Beach and The Shore Club which are both located directly on Collins Avenue on Miami Beach. If the name Mondrian sounds familiar, it is because Morgans Hotel Group also owns Mondrian West Hollywood, which also has had a fantastic renovation.

A computer-generated version of the lobby area.  This looks like the staircase to heaven… not a super swanky hotel lobby in Miami Beach.  But alas!   This laser-cut staircase stands amid the glossy marble floor and seems to go all the way up to… um…. heaven.

The completed version.

The all-white bar area, complete with thimble-like columns and another view of the lobby staircase.

 

Computer generated lobby area.  Matching fabric on everything!  Includes chairs, floor pillow seating areas, lamps and lampshades.  The wire forms outside are the forms for the hedge canopies in the outdoor seating areas.

The computer-generated version of one of the lobby areas complete with sleeping beauty bells with chandeliers inside.

The completed version of the bells.

 

Lobby area with a stark contrast between the seating areas, black-painted floors  and a 3-D face peering out at you.  Wanders said, “In every room, we wanted to have someone who is the host, someone who is looking at you.”  I find this strange, how about you?

 

Lobby area.  I love the cut-out reliefs on the back wall, as well as the reception desk bejeweled in metallic tiles.

 

In lieu of solid walls, Wanders separated sleeping and bathing areas with a full-height pane of clear glass to create a loft-like bedroom suite; a curtain offers privacy if desired.

Very cool whirlpool tub unlike anything I’ve seen before.  It looks more like an over-sized soapdish, but I love it! 

Wanders kept floor plans as open as possible and created spatial continuity with continuous flooring that run throughout, even onto the open-air balconies.  Here we see the fabric that was shown in the lobby area above, covering even the standing lamp.

 

Computer generated version of the bathroom area looking into the bedroom.  The fairy-tale mirror mounted on the glass wall is very effective in this space that was created to be open and airy, taking advantage of the views.

Computer-generated room with the glass walls, damask wallpaper and beautifully patterned rugs.

 

The completed hotel rooms with three different black and white patterns flanking the floor and walls.  It works because the furniture items in the room are simple and streamlined.

The opposite view of the room.  The yellow is a great shock of color in this black and white space.  The mirror is symbolic of the fairy tale stories that Wander is creating here.

 

Wanders with what looks to be his favorite wall treatment.

 

Computer-generated model of one of the apartment living spaces.

The completed living area, complete with another 3-D face peering out.  

Indeed, his most fanciful design detail is also the most functional: showerheads in the form of crystal chandeliers that double as operable lighting fixtures.   Beautiful!

“We just combined two ideas—water and light—it was very simple. In Dutch we call it vanzelfsprekend: it speaks for itself,” says Wanders.   Wanders designed similar fixtures to hang over the outdoor swimming pool.

 

 

A living room in one of the apartments.  The tiled wall is gorgeous and creates an incredible focal point for the room. 

Modular couch given a busy fabric treatment of toile de Jouy set against beautiful sheer drapes.

The original digital rendering of the toile de Jouy conceived by Marcel Wanders for his curved sofas at the Mondrian South Beach in Miami.

 

Floor plan of a one bedroom apartment.

 

Check out this amazing new vending machine that will sell you both a toothbrush and 24 carat gold handcuffs...oh and a Bentley.

Even the vending machines are different!  Doing away with a hotel gift shop and brushing off Marcel for a moment, the Mondrian brought in Mari Balestrazzi to reinvent an automat, called Semi-Automatic, for peddling their goodies. It's a great idea except for the fact that it only accepts credit cards and contains nothing edible.  But, you can buy a toothbrush, 24 carat gold handcuffs (I’m not EVEN going there!) and a Bentley!

 

Asia de Cuba at Mondrian South Beach blends modern furniture conceived by Marcel Wanders with innovative menus, incorporating the best of Asian and Latin cuisines.

 

Another view in the Asia de Cuba restaurant.

The new Mondrian South Beach's Sunset Lounge is the setting for several glam parties.

 

Another seating area, complete with the toile de Jouy pattern designed by Wanders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mondrian patio with a view of the Miami Beach skyline.  Again, they are using a palette of red and white.  The canopied arches over the private seating areas have beautiful chandeliers for lighting.

 

The patio area with elegant seating, bulbous chandeliers and more of those fantastically patterned rugs.

The hotel’s sunset lounge provides views over Miami’s downtown skyline while golden candelabras and onyx jewel-cut stools are combined with ottomans and antiques creating contrasting visual elements.

 

Mondrian South Beach, 1100 West Avenue, Miami Beach,

(800) 606-6090.

Off To The Big Easy!

Google

I am so excited to let you know you that I am off to New Orleans for a shopping trip for some of my clients. While I am there I will be meeting with a few great talents!!!

First, I am headed to Julie Neill Designs - The wonderfully creative and artistic Julie Neill, will be meeting me and showing me some of her exciting new products and designs.

Veranda

I'll also be meeting with the stylish and talented Tara Shaw! We'll see some of her new shipments from Europe and she'll share with us her visions for decorating the home.

Decorpad

I'll also be meeting the famous, Suzanne Kasler as she launches her elegant new line of furniture for Hickory Chair, and get to see her new designs in person.

Also, get ready for some exciting information on an antique collectible that is gaining in popularity, (which you are going to just love), as well as several other goodies and surprises along the way.

On Thursday and I'll announce the winner of the gorgeous, antique grain sack pillow. Thank you all for entering - Kym Fraser of Three Fine Grains and I are absolutely overwhelmed by your response!

On Friday I'll begin my series on my trip to "The Big Easy" - I hope you are excited as I am!!

See you in few days!!!

xx-Gina