Maria Sharapova - Unstoppable

My mother. There are not enough pages in a book to describe how special you are. For my sixteenth birthday, you bought me a pearl bracelet. A pearl is everything you stand for and bring to my life. Elegant and bold. Your love of literature inspired me to write this, although I am not even close to the level of the legendary authors you embrace. There was a time you hesitated about my desire to write this book, but I do hope that one day you will read it.

Father. You paved the road for me that I continue to walk on every single day. You never told me I had to be a winner. You never told me I didn’t. You simply guided me to be a champion . Not only did you take me to my destination, but you were there along the whole journey. Your stories are incredible, although your storytelling needs a faster pace. You can still be slightly annoying, and no matter how many times you tell me to put my phone away while eating, that will never change. I’m too old for that. I promised you I’d serve and volley once before you die. It’s coming. You’re still young.

Rich. I believed you were going to help me write this book seven years ago when I read one of your earlier works. I am so grateful for your humbling talent. And beyond grateful for your patience with all the male figures in my life. Thank you for living and breathing my life for this chunk of time. These pages would be a hot mess without you.

Estelle. I love you. Your name should be next to the words best friend in the dictionary. I will forever look forward to writing and receiving endless Christmas and birthday cards from you. And I know they’re not getting shorter anytime soon.

Max. Nineteen years and this is just the beginning of what we will accomplish together. I know you had more hair, fewer chins, and a more attractive waistline before you became my agent, but those are things money can pay for, right?

Jennifer. You believed in this book way before I ever did. Your confidence is contagious—a boss in capital letters! I want to be like you when I grow up.

Sarah. The passion with which you worked on this project is unforgettable. You believed in my life story from the very few paragraphs I put down on paper. No questions, no requests. You simply gave me the freedom to write this thing. Thank you!

Born in Nyagan, Russia, Maria Sharapovamoved to the United States when she was six years old. At seventeen, Sharapova beat Serena Williams to win Wimbledon. She reached the number one world ranking at eighteen, and has held that ranking a number of times since. To date, she has won five Grand Slams. She lives in Manhattan Beach, California. You can sign up for email updates here.

https://www.facebook.com/sharapova/

https://twitter.com/MariaSharapova?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Thank you for buying this Farrar, Straus and Giroux ebook.

To receive special offers, bonus content, and info on new releases and other great reads, sign up for our newsletters.

For email updates on the author, click here.

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

18 West 18th Street, New York 10011

Copyright © 2017 by SW19, Inc.

All rights reserved

First edition, 2017

Names: Sharapova, Maria, 1987– author.

Title: Unstoppable: my life so far / Maria Sharapova.

Description: New York: Sarah Crichton Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, [2017]

Identifiers: LCCN 2017017149 | ISBN 9780374279790 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780374715311 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Sharapova, Maria, 1987– | Tennis players—Russia (Federation)—Biography. | Women tennis players—Russia (Federation)—Biography.

Classification: LCC GV994.S28 S53 2017 | DDC 796.342092 [B]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017017149

Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.