Maria Sharapova: Marketing a Champion

Introduction

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova was born on April, 19th, 1987 in the city of Nyagan, the Tyumen region where her parents moved from Gomel after the Chernobyl accident. Soon the family has moved to Sochi where Masha in 4,5 years has started to be engaged in tennis under supervision of trainer Yury Jutkin. Masha's father was in good relationships with Evgenie Kafelnikov's father, and Evgenie was the first who presented the racket to Maria. In 1995 Sharapova's family moved to America where Maria has continued trainings. In 2001, at the age of 14 years, Maria has taken part in the first professional tennis tournament. Today Maria Sharapova – the known Russian tennis-player, the winner of three tournaments from "a Grand Slam" series. She is the unique Russian that has won first place in a world rating of Female tennis association. In 2008 Maria Sharapova played for the first time for a national team of Russia in the Federation Cup. Today Maria is one of the richest and popular sportswomen of the world. The person of own brand Maria Sharapova Inc. and the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations.

Professional sportswoman

Maria Sharapova who has won the well-known Wimbledon tournament at the age of 17 years and is three times winner of the Cup of "Grand Slam”, under 21 years old, has made an exact throw and became a part of competitive business sphere. It is necessary to tell that for today Maria is the most highly paid sportswoman in the history of world’s sports, her income was 26 million US dollars in 2008. But, unlike other glorified sports beauties, Sharapova has acted with the innovative and unprecedented sports marketing initiative which represent her as great tennis player and smart business lady. Today fashionable brand Maria Sharapova Inc., is a very strong brand, as well as the well-known blow of "the Shouting Cinderella» on a ball. And neither market collapses, nor the trauma of the shoulder which has forced Masha eight months to spend far...