Sharapova

Roland Garros Stadium in Paris burst into applause as Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova grabbed the top spot in the women's singles final of the French Open tennis tournament, beating Romania's Simona Halep.

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has reconsidered legally changing her surname to Sugarpova – her confectionary brand - for the two weeks of the US Open. The world’s highest-earning female athlete said getting a new passport would take too long.

Women’s tennis has been getting progressively faster and more powerful, but former Russian star, Anastasia Myskina, believes intelligence and tactics will still give players the edge in deciding the Grand Slams.

Russian flag-bearer Maria Sharapova lost out on the gold medal for tennis singles at the 2012 London Games in a final match against the in-form Serena Williams.

Russian tennis queen Maria Sharapova says being her country’s flag-bearer at the opening of the London Games turned out an easier task than she expected.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has topped the annual list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes by Forbes magazine. The US boxer, whose nickname is Money, has earned $85 million, despite spending less than an hour in the ring.

Pole vault queen, Olympic champion Elena Isinbayeva has been named the most successful Russian female athlete.

TotalProSports has revealed the rating of the Most Googled Female Athletes in 2011. The list of 30 boasts 18 tennis stars, with four of them – unsurprisingly - Russians. However, one choice has raised a few questions.

Tennis star Maria Sharapova may not have won the Wimbledon cup this year despite a great fight, but she is nevertheless an inspiration for an entire generation of young Russian players.