Maria Sharapova br Announces Retirement The five-time Grand Slam champion announced br her retirement from tennis after br a 19-year professional career. Sharapova turned pro in 2001 at the age of 14 br and would go on to reach No. 1 in the br WTA rankings several times. The 32-year-old has cemented her legacy as a tennis great despite dealing with shoulder injuries and surgeries throughout her career. In 2016, she faced a 15-month suspension for br testing positive for a banned substance. Sharapova is also known for a her longtime rivalry and feud with tennis legend Serena Williams . Sharapova compiled a career record of 645-171 br in singles which included 36 titles.