Sharapova reveals more than ever in new Vogue feature

In a lengthy *Vogue* feature published on Friday, Maria Sharapova sits down in her stylish Southern Californian home to discuss everything from drinking, business, dating and, of course, her comeback from the biggest doping scandal in tennis.

It’s fitting that on St. Patrick’s Day, the former world No. 1 admitted to an increase in alcohol consumption.

“This past year, my intake of alcohol was so much more than ever in my life,” Sharapova says. “But it was because I actually had a social life!”

Vogue does well to invite readers into parts of Sharapova’s life that many have never seen before. In constant to the cold, closed-off persona she’s been associated with—which she addressed—the soon-to-be 30-year-old comes off as relatable, relaxed and fun to be around.

Of course, the elephant in the room is how, after her stunning doping announcement last March, Sharapova found herself serving a 15-month suspension for taking meldonium. Facing it head on, Sharapova has tried to be as honest as one can be about her mistake.

“I think if I was trying to hide something, I don’t think I would come out to the world and say I was taking a drug for ten years,” she said. “If I was really trying to take the easy way out, that’s not a very smart thing to do.”

Sharapova has done nothing but embrace her predicament, throwing herself into life outside of the tour while training as much as ever. She worked in an NBA internship, wrote a memoir, traveled to new places and invested more time in her sugary business, Sugarpova.

At a time when many athletes would be reclusive, Sharapova has shared more of her life than ever, and showed up everywhere from Netflix to red carpets and shopping malls.

The five-time Grand Slam champion even speaks candidly for the first time about her two-year relationship with Grigor Dimitrov. Both tried to keep their relationship under wraps, but it was impossible to miss two of the most noticeable figures in the sport so close together, so often.

“We closed down a restaurant after talking for five hours,” she said about running into Dimitrov in New York. “He was such an important part of my life, and he’s a very delicate, complicated person. It was so nice to just be normal human beings.”

Their relationship ended in 2015. These days, Sharapova is embracing her dating life more than ever—and, just as importantly, seemed to have gotten some much-needed closure.

Back in October, the Russian sounded vindictive and angry when she did her first interview since March on Charlie Rose's PBS show.

“I was fighting for my right to get back to the court by making an honest mistake, but I was also fighting an organization that wanted to ban me for four years,” she said told Rose about the ITF. “And that was wrong. That was wrong because they didn’t do their part.”

Lately, though, Sharapova seems to have moved on, and is looking to the future, which seems brighter with each passing day thanks to wild cards into Stuttgart, Rome and Madrid. Love her or hate her, Sharapova’s return—set for April 26 in Stuttgart—will be one of the biggest stories of the season.