10 years since Maria Sharapova announced her arrival to the world
Russian still full of fight a decade after her first Wimbledon triumph
Ten years ago, Maria Sharapova routed Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final, climbed into the players box to tearfully embrace her father Yuri and was immediately propelled into a life of staggering riches.
Just 17 at the time, Sharapova was the third youngest women's champion after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis.
If she was a virtual unknown in 2004, the statuesque Russian blonde is now the world's most widely recognised and richest sportswoman, comfortably coining around US$30 million last year from earnings, off court and on.
You know, at that stage you're 17 years old and of course you think it was a great tournament. Can I do that again? Can I win more majors? You always have those question marks
"You know, at that stage you're 17 years old and of course you think it was a great tournament. Can I do that again? Can I win more majors? You always have those question marks," admitted Sharapova, after winning a second French Open and fifth major in Paris this month.
"Ten years later and to have five under my belt and to keep going, it's quite emotional."
Ten years before her life-changing Wimbledon win, Sharapova, leaving her mother in Russia, had headed for the famed Bollettieri academy in Forida.
Neither she nor father Yuri spoke any English and they arrived in the United States with just US$700. Yuri took a string of manual jobs, including washing dishes, to make ends meet. Those dirt-poor days are long gone.