Former Wimbledon champions looks unrecognisable as she dazzles at event in Italy five years after retiring from tennis

• The star rocketed to fame when she won the tournament in 2004 at the age of 17
• She has opted for a more natural look since retiring from playing five years ago
• Partner Alex Gilkes joined her in Monte Argentario, Italy, on Monday for the event

By LEWIS BROWNING

A former Wimbledon champion looked unrecognisable at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Hotel II Pellicano in Monte Argentario, Italy, on Monday.

The next Grand Slam on the tennis calendar gets underway on June 30, where Barbora Krejcikova will be looking to defend the women’s singles title she won on Centre Court 12 months ago.

But one of the more famous champions to grace the court is Russia’s Maria Sharapova, who famously won the title in 2004 as a 17-year-old, when she beat Serena Williams in the final.

The now-38-year-old went on to win all four Grand Slam titles – the French Open twice – before calling a day on her career five years ago.

She has continued to focus on her investment portfolio since retiring, and attended Monday night’s party alongside fiance Alex Gilkes and the likes of Michel Martone.

Sharapova looked unrecognisable from her playing days, donning long brown hair rather than her famous blonde, while she dazzled in a see-through black top and long black trousers.

A former Wimbledon champion looked unrecogniseable on Monday ahead of the start of the 2025 edition of the competition

Maria Sharapova retired from tennis in 2020 and has opted for a more natural look in her post-playing days

The Russian rocketed to fame when she beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon in 2004

The former Wimbledon champion rocketed to fame when she beat top seed and defending champion Williams 21 years ago to win her first Grand Slam at just 17.

Since retiring in 2020, Sharapova has favoured a more natural look to her playing days and a number of fans have been in agreement, after a double take, on her social media profiles.

During her storied time on court, Sharapova become the first Russian player to complete the career Grand Slam after wins in Melbourne, New York, Paris and London and the third-youngest woman to triumph at Wimbledon. 

But her career was marred by a 2016 failed drugs test, which saw Sharapova suspended for two years after she was found to have ingested meldonium, a substance which had been banned at the start of that year, ahead of the Australian Open. 

Her suspension was later reduced to 15 months after she was found to have taken the drug as per her doctor’s advice, and Sharapova returned to competition in April 2017, and won the Tianjin Open seven months later. 

After struggling with chronic shoulder issues for a number of years, Sharapova announced her retirement in 2020, sharing an emotional goodbye message with her followers that spoke to her deep connection to the game.

‘How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?,’ Sharapova wrote. 

‘How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love – one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys – a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years?

‘I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye.’

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Former Wimbledon champions looks unrecognisable as she dazzles at event in Italy five years after retiring from tennis

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