Maria Sharapova recently went viral after a rare video of her playing tennis at the age of 10 went viral. One of the most famous American coaches, Rick Macci, was the one to share the video online. Sharapova has trained under Macci since 1994, when she arrived in the US. After which, she joined the IMG Academy.
It’s safe to say that Maria Sharapova was one of the best students trained by the 71-year-old coach. Macci shared the video on social media where Sharapova was seen hitting with backhands and forehands.
“10 year-old Maria Sharapova pop in the popcorn extra butter!!” Macci captioned his post.
Fans were shocked to watch her incredible game at such a young age.
Here’s a look at the video:
Maria Sharapova was one of the best players. She became the World No. 1 and 36-time career singles titlist.
Macci continued to heap praise on Sharapova, stating that what he seen in her he did not see in Serena Williams.
“That’s why I love Sharapova… even at 11, she was in a bubble. I called it. Even though she was limited athletically, she had that mental box already there. It was amazing. I didn’t see it in Serena,” Macci said.
Maria Sharapova Reflects On Unforgettable Moment With Serena Williams
Many players have gone up against Serena Williams, and Sharapova had a growing rivalry for a long time. Sharapova recalled an unforgettable moment when she was up against Williams in London. The former star showed how fearless she was while playing against Williams.
“I was 17 years old and it was in London, in Wimbledon, and the whole world was watching. I was playing against Serena Williams, and everything felt like I should have just been happy to be there, but I was so fearless. It’s always the memory that comes to mind because I least expected it to come then. And I was so tough. I went for it,” Maria Sharapova said.
After a successful career, Sharapova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year. Surprisingly, it was Serena Williams who inducted her.
Macci also coached both Venus and Serena Williams at a young age. He also mentioned that Maria Sharapova underwent mental stress at a young age, something that Serena didn’t have much.
