Maria fights back tears as she is forced to hang up racquet

EMOTIONAL Maria Sharapova has announced she is retiring from tennis.

The Russian, 32, won five Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon glory as a teenager in 2004, but has lost her battle with injuries.

Writing for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Sharapova said: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?

“How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game 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?

“I’m new to this so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye.”

Sharapova burst onto the scene with her Wimbledon victory aged just 17 and followed it up by winning the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008 before claiming French Open titles in 2012 and 2014.

She wrote: “Wimbledon seemed like a good place to start.

“I was a naive 17-year-old, still collecting stamps, and didn’t understand the magnitude of my victory until I was older.

“The US Open showed me how to overcome distractions and

BY RICH JONES expectations. If you couldn’t handle the commotion of New York – well, the airport was almost next door.

“The Australian Open took me to an extreme confidence that some people call being “in the zone”. I can’t explain it – but it was a good place to be.

“The clay in France exposed virtually all my weaknesses and forced me to overcome them. Twice. That felt good.”

Sharapova was banned for two years for a failed drugs test in 2016 but it was reduced to 15 months on appeal. She returned to the Tour in 2017 but had fallen to world No.369 by the time she retired.

Men’s world No.1 Novak Djokovic led the tributes to her career, saying: “It’s truly inspirational to see what a mind of a champion she has.”

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said: “She’s been an amazing competitor, never gives up.”