Former Wimbledon champion is unrecognisable as she posts pictures of new hair colour
Maria Sharapova may have been off the radar since her 2020 retirement, but fans were left double-taking at her new look.
Famed for her blonde locks that saw her win all four Grand Slams and become women’s number one, the Russian looks quite unrecognisable from her playing days.
Posting an update to her 4.5million followers on Instagram, the now 36-year-old wrote: “When your photo album has a few new photos other than your child.”
A number of fans were taken aback by her new brunette look, having become one of the world’s most famous athletes in her prime with a very different style.
Bursting onto the scene in 2004, a 17-year-old Sharapova defeated Serena Williams at Wimbledon to win her first Slam, and set up a potentially era-defining rivalry.
Williams went on to win that particular battle, but Sharapova still continued a career the envy of many, winning the US Open two years later, the Australian Open in 2008 and two French Opens in 2012 and 2014.
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After that she suffered with chronic shoulder issues and opted to end her playing career in February 2020 after 28 years on the court.
Writing in an emotional farewell, she 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 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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Since then she has enjoyed retirement, giving birth to her first child, Theodore, which takes up much of her social media activity.