Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from professional tennis Wednesday morning, putting a cap on a 19-year career that included winning 36 WTA singles titles, completing the career Grand Slam and spending 21 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world.
Here's a look back at the 32-year-old Russian's history in New York, where she played 13 times and took home the trophy in 2006.
A 16-year-old Sharapova played her first US Open in 2003 and reached the second round. Ranked No. 54 entering the tournament, she defeated Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual, 6-1, 6-1, for her first-ever win in New York, before falling to Emilie Loit of France in Round 2.
Sharapova was seeded No. 1 one time in her 13 career appearances in New York, in 2005. She reached the semifinals that year, falling to No. 4 seed and eventual champion Kim Clijsters, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.
The following year, the Russian captured the 2006 US Open women's singles title, defeating world No. 1 and top seed Amelie Mauresmo, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0, in the semifinals before beating No. 2 Justine Henin, 6-4, 6-4, in the final. It was the second major championship of Sharapova's career, as she claimed her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2004, at age 17.
Sharapova participated in Arthur Ashe Kids' Day several times over the years at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including in 2009, when she, Serena Williams and Roger Federer shared a laugh while watching actor Will Ferrell during the festivities.
Sharapova has been a tennis fashion icon throughout her career and consistently debuted two dresses each year in New Yorkâone for her day-session matches and one when she played under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium at night.
Sharapova played her final US Open in 2019, falling in a much-anticipated first-round clash against long-time rival Serena Williams. It was the only time she lost in the opening round in Flushing Meadows.
The first Russian woman to attain the world No. 1 ranking, on Aug. 22, 2005, and the world's highest-paid female athlete for 10 straight years starting in 2006, Sharapova finishes her career in New York with a 38-12 overall record, winning one title (2006), reaching two semifinals (2005, 2012) and advancing to the Round of 16 four times (2010, 2014, 2017, 2018).
