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Maria Sharapova graced the US Open at Flushing Meadows in a role that suits her best now-mom. The 36-year-old Russian, who welcomed her son Theodore with fiancé Alexander Gilkes on July 1, 2022, made heads turn as she attended the opening day in a striking red power suit.
Delighted with her new perspective, Sharapova expressed: "I'm very happy with where I am at this stage of life. I appreciate what the sport has taught me and where it's taken me, but I definitely love seeing it from the outside now." Having retired from tennis in February 2020 after a first-round defeat at the Australian Open, she now finds joy in being a spectator.
"I love it," Sharapova enthused about being present at the US Open, which runs until Sept. 10. "I love having an outsider's perspective. I love watching the new generations unfold, and the sport in general. In fact, I think the US Open is the only tennis event that I've been to in person since I retired. It's a really special one, with the energy of the crowds there."
Accompanied by fashion designer Gabriela Hearst, Sharapova attended the event and shared their photo on her Instagram Story. The two were seen seated near iconic designer Vera Wang and Anna Wintour, the long-serving editor-in-chief of Vogue.
She's the captain of the SS Evian
In addition to her role as a spectator, Sharapova is the captain of the SS Evian, a floating tennis court that will cruise the Hudson River during the men's final on Sept. 10. This aligns well with her various business ventures, which now coexist with her commitment to motherhood.
"After you do have a child, there are so many other more important responsibilities that you have to take care of," Sharapova shared. "If I miss a workout one day, I give myself that break. Or if I want to spoil myself and eat a cookie at midday randomly, then that's okay too. So I think it's finding the right moments of that balance."
With a supportive husband and family, she navigates her multifaceted roles, acknowledging that each week brings new challenges. Sharapova's engagement to Alexander Gilkes, confirmed in December 2020, adds another layer to her evolving narrative of motherhood and embracing new experiences.