Former Wimbledon champion looks unrecognisable as she returns to Centre Court four years after retiring from tennis
- The former Wimbledon champion made a special return to center court
- She looked unrecognizable as the tennis icon was welcomed back to SW19
- The Russian made his appearance for the iconic club ahead of the first round matches
Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova looked almost unrecognisable as she arrived at the iconic club on Saturday ahead of the start of this year’s tournament.
The Russian rose to fame when she defeated top seed and defending champion Serena Williams on Centre Court in 2004 to win her first Grand Slam at the age of 17 and become known for her trademark long blonde hair.
But following her retirement in 2020, Sharapova has favored a more natural look and after the former player shared a recent photo on her Instagram page, a number of fans did a double take to agree.
During her illustrious time on the tennis court, Sharapova became the first Russian player to complete a Grand Slam, following victories in Melbourne, New York, Paris and London. She also became the third-youngest woman to ever triumph at Wimbledon.
Now she’s back at Wimbledon, albeit without a playing role, having been welcomed to SW19 for an afternoon of posing on centre court.
Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova looked almost unrecognisable as she arrived at the iconic club
The Russian shot to fame when she won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17
The first round of Wimbledon gets underway on Monday, with Emma Raducanu, one of the British players, looking to cause a stir at the tournament.
Sharapova retired from playing four years ago after struggling with injuries, but the last few years of her time in the sport were marred by a failed drugs test.
In a 2016 test, Sharapova was banned for two years after she was found to have taken meldonium, a substance that was banned earlier that year ahead of the Australian Open.
Sharapova retired from playing four years ago after an injury
Sharapova opted for an almost all-black ensemble for the return trip to Wimbledon
Her suspension was later reduced to 15 months after it was found that she had been taking the drug in accordance with her doctor’s advice.
Sharapova stood out for the radiant blonde hair she wore for most of her career, but now, at 37, she has opted for a brunette hairstyle.
For the return trip to Wimbledon, she opted for an almost all-black ensemble – a striking change from the white attire Sharapova previously wore at the famous grass tennis club.
Her last appearance as a player at Wimbledon was in 2010, when Sharapova was forced to withdraw from her first-round match against Pauline Parmentier due to injury.