Maria Sharapova looked almost unrecognisable from her former self after turning up for a weekend of Formula 1 fun at the Monaco Grand Prix.
And fans might have struggled to recognise the former tennis powerhouse, reported the Daily Express. In truth, Sharapova is well-accustomed to the brunette look she adopted following retirement in 2020, but the Russian is more renowned for the classic blonde locks she paraded throughout her on-court career.
The former world No 1 – who won Wimbledon in 2004 before going on to add titles from the other three majors – turned up in Monte Carlo looking quite different from the five-time Grand Slam winner who once ruled the court. Sharapova, 37, was a formidable force in women’s tennis, bagging five major titles in total over a decade.
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Famous for her blonde tresses, she has since switched to brunette but looked just as stunning regardless of her hair colour. Even though she’s not a natural car enthusiast, the retired star seemed to be enjoying the F1 atmosphere.
“Not my typical weekend of very fancy and very fast cars,” Sharapova penned in an Instagram post marking her trip. “Slide 4. Expectations for my next tyre change back home.”
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(Image: Getty)
The mentioned slide displayed footage of Lewis Hamilton getting his tyres changed during a pitstop during practice at the Monaco GP, where he finished up in seventh. It appeared Sharapova was a guest in the Mercedes area given her close-up view of the Silver Arrows paddock.
Another post showed Sharapova speaking at an event with seven-time world champion Hamilton that same weekend. She again turned heads while flaunting her brunette look in a form-fitting Stella McCartney dress.
Once a titan of the tennis world, Sharapova’s legacy was marred by a doping scandal shortly before ending her career. It was revealed in 2016 that Sharapova had tested positive for meldonium, a substance banned by WADA earlier that year.
Despite admitting to long-term use of the drug, Sharapova’s appeal only resulted in a reduction of her suspension from 24 months to 15 months. The scandal also cost her several sponsorship deals and her position as a United Nations Development Programme ambassador.
(Image: Getty)
After returning to the court in 2017, Sharapova’s performances noticeably declined as she struggled to match her previous Grand Slam successes. Her only major quarter-final appearance post-scandal came at the 2018 French Open.
Four years later the former tennis star seems happy in retirement, having married British businessman Alexander Gilkes shortly after leaving the court. The couple now share one son, while Sharapova continues to promote sport and fashion on social media.