Unstoppable : my life so far
(Book)

In 2015, when five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova began working on this memoir, she was imagining her retirement from the sport. Then a two-year suspension from the International Tennis Federation caught her by surprise and forced a change in plans. Sharapova offers her side of the controversy, which involved use of a banned substance, but the heart of the book tells the story of an immigrant father and his seven-year-old daughter who travel from Russia to the U.S. with little in their pockets but a clear vision: for Maria to become the world's best tennis player. In detailing her phenomenal rise through the ranks, Sharapova includes diary entries and commentary from key figures in her career. The narrative thoroughly chronicles her family's struggles and occasional strokes of luck, her experiences with multiple coaches, and the epic matches that have defined her career, including winning Wimbledon at age 17 against rival Serena Williams. Unstoppable is an inspiring memoir about coming-of-age within the elite tennis community and a tribute to the unconditional support from families and coaches who make success possible. Sure to satisfy longtime fans of women's tennis.--Barrera, Brenda Copyright 2017 Booklist

In this insightful memoir, 30-year-old tennis star Sharapova details her life from her earliest memories to the present day. Her father, Yuri, whisked six-year-old Maria from Russia to Florida because of her tennis skills, at tennis star Martina Navratilova's suggestion: "Your daughter can play; you need to get her out of the country to a place where she can develop her game." What ensued for Maria was a life lived on tennis courts-either playing in tournaments or toiling in academies-partially funded by whatever work Yuri could find. Maria excelled quickly, though at the cost of a typical childhood. After winning Wimbledon at 17, she entered another isolated sphere, one of celebrity and its trappings. "In short," she writes, "winning fucks you up." She is similarly blunt when discussing how to lose and her rivalry with Serena Williams, whom Sharapova discovered bawling after Sharapova beat her at Wimbledon in 2004 ("I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment"). Sharapova's eloquent self-awareness provides a rare glimpse into the disorienting push and pull of a famous athlete's life. "I know you want us to love this game-us loving it makes it more fun to watch," she writes. "But we don't love it. And we don't hate it. It just is, and always has been." 16 pages of full-color photos. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Sharapova made her mark on tennis in 2004, winning Wimbledon at the age of 17. Since then, she has had numerous ups and downs, both on and off of the court. In this memoir, Sharapova relates how she first picked up a racquet as a toddler and soon fell in love with the game. After realizing his daughter's early potential, Sharapova's father impetuously moved her to Florida at the age of six to pursue their shared dream of her becoming the greatest player in the world. Her revelations about competing at the highest level are both insightful and fearsome. To be successful in professional tennis, she relates, one has to realize that every other player is a formidable opponent. She explains this rationale is why she has been perceived as aloof yet also has maintained a career in such a competitive environment. VERDICT Similar to Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography, this personal account relays the experiences of a high-level tennis player and the privations and plaudits that accompany such a life. [See Prepub Alert, 3/8/17.]-Brian Renvall, -Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Professional tennis celebrity Sharapova relates her remarkable immigration saga and writes candidly about her career, family, and personal life.The author's father, Yuri, became interested in tennis by chance as an adult. When young Maria started tagging along with him to watch matches, Yuri recognized her natural ability and decided he would devote his life to developing her into the world's top female tennis player. Yuri persuaded his wife to surrender seeing Maria for at least a couple of years, and he and 7-year-old Maria spent the family savings on airplane tickets to Florida, where top youth tennis camps, especially the IMG Academy, trained future stars. Yuri and Maria spoke no English, did not contact any of the academies in advance, and had no idea how to find a residence, but through a series of fortunate, unlikely occurrences, Maria gained entry into IMG. With fierce determination, she drilled every day with her father and coaches, and eventually her mother was able to obtain a rare visa to enter the U.S., reuniting the family. After a major growth spurt, the young Sharapova quickly ascended the youth ranks. At age 17, she defeated the top seed, Serena Williams, to win Wimbledon, becoming the third-youngest woman to win the prestigious tournament. Williams appears often throughout the remainder of the book, as she becomes Sharapova's chief rival and the most dominant force in the women's game. For tennis players and fans, the memoir is filled with solid insights about on-the-court strategy and off-the-court psychology. "I can get fancy and sweet about it," she writes, "but at bottom my motivation is simple: I want to beat everyone.Ribbons and trophies get old, but losing lasts." For readers with no interest in tennis, the author delivers an impressive immigration tale, an inspiring coming-of-age narrative, and a host of useful advice on navigating celebrity culture. Sharapova demonstrates consistent dedication and impressive wisdom for her age. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In 2015, when five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova began working on this memoir, she was imagining her retirement from the sport. Then a two-year suspension from the International Tennis Federation caught her by surprise and forced a change in plans. Sharapova offers her side of the controversy, which involved use of a banned substance, but the heart of the book tells the story of an immigrant father and his seven-year-old daughter who travel from Russia to the U.S. with little in their pockets but a clear vision: for Maria to become the world's best tennis player. In detailing her phenomenal rise through the ranks, Sharapova includes diary entries and commentary from key figures in her career. The narrative thoroughly chronicles her family's struggles and occasional strokes of luck, her experiences with multiple coaches, and the epic matches that have defined her career, including winning Wimbledon at age 17 against rival Serena Williams. Unstoppable is an inspiring memoir about coming-of-age within the elite tennis community and a tribute to the unconditional support from families and coaches who make success possible. Sure to satisfy longtime fans of women's tennis. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

The winner of five Grand Slam titles to date, Russian tennis player Sharapova also stars on the fashion pages and is notable for her charity work. Her career has zigged and zagged, particularly with the recent two-year ban (now reduced) after testing positive for a prohibited drug.

Sharapova made her mark on tennis in 2004, winning Wimbledon at the age of 17. Since then, she has had numerous ups and downs, both on and off of the court. In this memoir, Sharapova relates how she first picked up a racquet as a toddler and soon fell in love with the game. After realizing his daughter's early potential, Sharapova's father impetuously moved her to Florida at the age of six to pursue their shared dream of her becoming the greatest player in the world. Her revelations about competing at the highest level are both insightful and fearsome. To be successful in professional tennis, she relates, one has to realize that every other player is a formidable opponent. She explains this rationale is why she has been perceived as aloof yet also has maintained a career in such a competitive environment. VERDICT Similar to Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography, this personal account relays the experiences of a high-level tennis player and the privations and plaudits that accompany such a life. [See Prepub Alert, 3/8/17.]—Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM

In this insightful memoir, 30-year-old tennis star Sharapova details her life from her earliest memories to the present day. Her father, Yuri, whisked six-year-old Maria from Russia to Florida because of her tennis skills, at tennis star Martina Navratilova's suggestion: "Your daughter can play; you need to get her out of the country to a place where she can develop her game." What ensued for Maria was a life lived on tennis courts—either playing in tournaments or toiling in academies—partially funded by whatever work Yuri could find. Maria excelled quickly, though at the cost of a typical childhood. After winning Wimbledon at 17, she entered another isolated sphere, one of celebrity and its trappings. "In short," she writes, "winning fucks you up." She is similarly blunt when discussing how to lose and her rivalry with Serena Williams, whom Sharapova discovered bawling after Sharapova beat her at Wimbledon in 2004 ("I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment"). Sharapova's eloquent self-awareness provides a rare glimpse into the disorienting push and pull of a famous athlete's life. "I know you want us to love this game—us loving it makes it more fun to watch," she writes. "But we don't love it. And we don't hate it. It just is, and always has been." 16 pages of full-color photos. (Sept.)