Stefanos Tsitsipas 'couldn't be prouder' of Paula Badosa for winning 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year

Twenty years to the day since the Russian’s maiden Grand Slam victory on these lawns as an 17-year-old, Sharapova returned to Centre Court on Wednesday to take in the action from 'the best seat in the house' in the Royal Box.

“My first time as a spectator here… I’ve never felt so relaxed or so glammed up to attend Wimbledon before,” Sharapova told Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman and Martina Navratilova.

“It feels a little bit like an out-of-body experience!”

Sharapova and fiance Alexander Gilkes took their seats on Centre Court, 20 years to the day since the Russian's victory here.

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The former world No. 1 hasn’t attended many tennis events since retiring in February 2020, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later, due to her pregnancy and the birth of son Theo.

But with the little one celebrating his second birthday on the eve of The Championships, Sharapova has been increasingly spotted at Grand Slams again, including the 2023 US Open and this year’s French Open.

For the two-decade anniversary of her milestone SW19 win, Sharapova has spent her time reflecting on the moment for various video tributes, as well as rubbing elbows with the rising stars of the ATP and WTA Tours—including 17-year-old countrywoman Mirra Andreeva, who has been tipped to be ‘the next Maria’ by many a tennis pundit.

Sharapova stole the show in head-to-toe Burberry, from the safari-inspired outfit to her matching shades, bag and pumps.

“I feel like it’s been nice to reconnect with tennis venues again, to visit as a spectator,” Sharapova reflected. “I constantly watch you guys on Tennis Channel all the time. I love watching the sport and supporting all the great names in the new generation that’s coming up.

“But it’s a very different feeling being back. Although I have a healthy distance, I still feel like I’m a competitor at heart. You see those momentum swings in a match and you know that it’s an important moment…

“Being a spectator here is a lot of fun.”

Famous for her love for fashion and keen eye for styling, Sharapova stole the show with a head-to-toe Burberry look—a smart nod to the tournament’s traditional English roots. Sharapova rocked a wool safari shirt and trousers in honey beige, pairing the fit with a mini ivy green bag featuring the British luxury brand’s signature peg clip, tortoiseshell sunglasses and matching pumps.

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Thank you for the best seat in the house 😃!! https://t.co/oq8qHCht3f
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) July 3, 2024

After claiming her first Grand Slam victory at Wimbledon, Sharapova went on to win four more major titles and rise to world No. 1 in the WTA rankings. When the 2012 Olympic Games were held in London, Sharapova took home the silver medal for Russia after falling to longtime rival Serena Williams in the championship match.

Sharapova racked up 36 titles in her decorated career, though in 2016 she served a 15-month ban from competition after testing positive for a banned substance. She announced her retirement from tennis in 2020 via an essay in Vanity Fair and Vogue after playing the final match of her career at the Australian Open.

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