For almost twenty years, tennis nice Maria Sharapova traveled to each nook of the world together with her racquet, laser-focused on each stroke at greater than 800 matches and selecting up 5 Grand Slam trophies as souvenirs. So when she retired in 2020, she let go of her baggage—fairly actually.
“I used to journey with a whole lot of baggage as a result of I had simply so many issues for my occupation,” the 38-year-old instructed Journey + Leisure. “One of the crucial liberating points of being retired is that I like touring with a carry-on. Even when I really feel like I under-packed, it feels so liberating to journey mild.”
Her favourite moments on the highway as of late are equally low-key. “Now I’m a lover of resort baths as a result of after I’m at residence, particularly with my son, I haven’t got time for a correct tub,” she stated, calling bathing an “artwork.” Equally essential is her morning cup of joe. “I’m a little bit of a espresso snob,” she admitted, hopping by outlets in each vacation spot she visits.
Simply final weekend, she found Springline Espresso in Newport, Rhode Island, which was “very scrumptious” in a “setting that was so candy, proper on the bay.”
However the satisfying brew wasn’t the one factor that introduced her to the coastal city. Little did Sharapova know when she moved from her native Russia to Florida to begin coaching at simply seven years previous in 1995 that precisely 30 years later, she’d discover her manner up the coast to the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame (ITHF). She was simply honored as one of many 2025 inductees, cementing her place in tennis historical past within the new Corridor of Famers Gallery, unveiled in Could.
“I like visiting the museum,” she stated of the historic website of the Newport On line casino, the place the precursor to the U.S. Open was first performed in 1881. “You actually respect the evolution of the sport, whether or not it’s the clothes or sneakers that had been worn, or the racquets, strings, or balls used—you are capable of witness it multi functional area.”
With Maria Sharapova
Go-to room service order?
Pasta bolognese.
Dream journey vacation spot nonetheless in your record?
Bhutan!
Tennis participant who’s the perfect journey companion?
Properly, now it is Serena!
Favourite tennis venue?
Both Arthur Ashe [at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center] or Stadium Courtroom in Wimbledon.
Favourite metropolis to play tennis?
I might say New York. There’s one thing concerning the vitality. Regardless that I’m very targeted on simply being current and never taking too lots of the voices in, I discovered to essentially adapt and perceive the New York Metropolis crowd and use it to my benefit. They actually pulled me by a few of the hardest matches after I did not play my finest or after I was down. An evening match on the U.S. Open—there’s nothing prefer it!
Among the many tennis champion-turned-entrepreneur’s favourite shows are the Nike attire she wore, in addition to the branded tennis cans. “I like constructing manufacturers, so seeing the visible and artistic points like that gave me a whole lot of concepts,” she stated.
However probably the most epic a part of her ITHF induction weekend got here within the type of a shock she stored for months: asking her on-court rival of almost 15 years, none aside from Serena Williams, to introduce her.
Dakota Moyer/Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame
“That was a full-circle second,” Sharapova admits of the shock. “It began after I was a younger lady watching her play with Venus, and simply being so impressed by their power and the way superb they had been at their craft. Then dealing with Serena for thus a few years and now having her accepting and inducting me into the Corridor of Fame.”
Their well-known rivalry had began cooling behind the scenes, satirically by the course of a number of Met Galas, as their conversations grew longer with out the strain of the scoreboard looming over them. Quickly they found that not solely had been they extra alike than they thought, however that maybe they might really be mates, a sentiment on show by their fun-loving jabs at each other in the course of the ceremony. Regardless of Williams’ tight schedule, Sharapova stated her new pal even stayed for the celebration after the induction.
Well-known for her laser-focused grit and grind—whether or not it was taking part in at Wimbledon (her favourite Grand Slam), the Stuttgart Open (her different favourite match), or New York (her favourite metropolis to play in)—Sharapova did not have a lot time to journey for enjoyable till extra just lately. “I solely began taking holidays after I was like 20 years previous, already within the midst of my profession,” she stated, explaining that with the tennis tour schedule, it was all the time only one week in November after the ultimate match of the season in Asia. However she took benefit of the placement, taking quite a few journeys to Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan, with the latter being her favourite.
She just lately revisited Japan, staying in any respect three Aman Resorts—Aman Tokyo, Aman Kyoto, and Amanemu in Ise-Shima—as a part of her function because the model’s international wellness ambassador. Whereas having fun with the distinctive experiences at every, she was particularly taken by the Tokyo property, calling it “simply important, like one other stage of service,” additionally loving its Japanese breakfast and conventional baths.
Aman Resorts
“In Kyoto, I might get up actually early, jetlagged, and simply be on this out of doors scorching spring alone as the sunshine was coming by,” she stated, including, “I want that proper now!”
She was already a fan of Aman motels from her years on the highway, so this partnership is one other full-circle second. “I might take my mother and my mates to a distinct Aman each season throughout my restricted break day. To now align all the issues that I utilized into my profession into my partnership with Aman has been actually particular.”
Julian Finney/Getty Photographs
One other side she’s taken into her post-court life is embracing the outside. Whereas she admitted that jet lag “continues to be a difficult one to beat,” her go-to transfer was to bond with nature. “I simply like to run or stroll, and if I can do it barefoot on grass, that’s useful,” Sharapova stated. “I used to try this as a part of my restoration after I performed, so there are a couple of classes I’ve taken into retirement.”
She additionally hopes to proceed embracing quiet journey, particularly on highway journeys, mentioning that she savors “being in command of your vacation spot, if you wish to pivot and go some place else” and liking “the liberty of having the ability to cease off and take images.” One among her favourite highway journeys is up the California shoreline, alongside the “most stunning cliffs, whether or not it’s Massive Sur or all the way in which to Napa,” particularly having fun with the farm-to-table meals tradition that “is even higher now than it was years in the past.” However then she pauses and admits, “I am saying it as if I do that fairly often. I actually do not. However I’ve performed it, and I actually find it irresistible.”
In spite of everything, as of late, Sharapova’s prime precedence is her son, three-year-old Theodore. Although he typically stays with household when she travels for work, the toddler undoubtedly has had his passport stamped, with some of the memorable household holidays being a journey to Greece this previous summer time. “He is now at that age the place he is swimming a bit bit extra on his personal,” she stated. “Seeing that progress, you change into a proud mother, like, ‘Oh, you do not want floats, you are able to do it by yourself.’”
Whereas the lengthy journeys will be difficult with the toddler, she has settled into this new journey type. “You simply must lean into understanding it isn’t going to be as clean as you want, and do not forget that you will be blissful on the opposite facet of it,” the professional stated.
However Sharapova revels within the alternative to indicate him the world. “Journey has actually impacted me in so many constructive methods,” she stated of desirous to instill that very same spirit in her son. “Culturally, you lean into issues which are unfamiliar, whether or not it is a language barrier or meals tradition,” Sharapova stated. “It is a actually wholesome distraction. It will get you out of your each day routine. It additionally challenges your ideas, since you normally have a sure lifestyle, and then you definitely go to a rustic or state they usually prepare dinner otherwise, or they store for his or her groceries otherwise, or their artwork is totally different. The thought of exploring and opening your thoughts to different locations is fascinating.”