Maria Sharapova walked onto the Wimbledon grass in 2004 as a lanky seventeen-year-old and basically changed the face of women’s tennis overnight. Everyone remembers the power, the grunt, and that clinical win over Serena Williams. But since that day, one question has followed her more than perhaps any other athlete in the sport: how tall is Maria Sharapova exactly?
If you look at her official WTA bio, the number has sat at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) for years. But if you’ve ever seen her standing next to other "tall" celebrities or male tennis stars on a red carpet, you know that number feels like a conservative estimate. Honestly, height in tennis is a bit like "billed weight" in wrestling—it’s often a point of contention, exaggeration, or strategic downplaying.
Why Everyone Asks How Tall is Maria Sharapova
Most people are fascinated by her height because she doesn't just look "tall for a girl." She’s genuinely tall by any standard. To put it in perspective, the average Russian woman is roughly 5 feet 5 inches. Sharapova towers over that by nearly nine inches.
When she first turned pro at 14, she was already pushing 5'8". By the time she won Wimbledon in 2004, she was listed around 6'0". But here’s the thing: she wasn't done growing. Most people stop growing in their late teens, but Sharapova reportedly had a final growth spurt in 2005 that pushed her past the 6-foot mark.
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The Famous Height Comparisons
You've probably seen the photos. There’s the one of her standing next to Floyd Mayweather, where she looks like a literal giant (though she was wearing heels, and Floyd is famously about 5'8"). Then there are the shots of her with Magic Johnson. Magic is 6'9", yet in heels, Maria looked like she could almost look him in the eye.
- Serena Williams: Listed at 5'9". When they stood at the net, the 5-inch difference was massive.
- Venus Williams: At 6'1", Venus is one of the few players who could actually compete with Maria’s eye level, yet Maria still looks slightly taller in most side-by-side photos.
- Roger Federer: Roger is 6'1". There are several photos from gala events where Maria, even in modest heels, appears significantly taller than the Swiss maestro.
The Growth Spurt That Changed Her Game
There’s a bit of tennis lore regarding Maria’s height. Many analysts believe her "slump" in the mid-2000s—if you can even call it that for a multi-Slam winner—was partly due to her body changing so rapidly.
Imagine trying to maintain world-class timing on a tennis ball while your limbs are literally getting longer every few months. It changes your center of gravity. It changes your stride. For Maria, being 6 feet 2 inches was both a weapon and a hurdle.
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The Serve Advantage
Being that tall gives you a "downward" angle on the serve that shorter players would kill for. It’s simple physics. The higher the contact point, the more court you can see over the net. This is why she could rack up aces even when her shoulder was held together by tape and prayers later in her career.
The Movement Struggle
On the flip side, "tall" usually means "slower to turn." Maria was never the best "mover" on the tour. She wasn't a defensive wall like Justine Henin or Kim Clijsters. Instead, she used her massive wingspan to reach balls other players had to run for. She basically played "first-strike" tennis because she knew she didn't want to get into a 20-shot track meet against someone 5'6".
Is She Actually 6'3"?
There is a long-standing rumor among tennis journalists and fans that Maria is actually closer to 6'3" (190 cm). Why would she hide an inch? Well, in the early 2000s, there was still a weird social stigma about female athletes being "too tall."
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During an interview on The Late Show with David Letterman years ago, she actually joked about being 6'3" in shoes. While 6'2" is the official number she stuck with throughout her career, many who have met her in person—without heels—swear she’s taller than most 6'2" men they know.
Living at 6'2" After Tennis
Since retiring in 2020, Sharapova has leaned into her height through fashion. She doesn't shy away from four-inch stilettos that put her well over 6'5" at public events.
In the business world, height is often associated with "presence," and Maria uses it to her advantage. Whether she's sitting on a board of directors or launching a new brand, she literally and figuratively overlooks the competition.
Actionable Takeaways for Tall Athletes
If you’re a young athlete wondering how to handle a height like Maria’s, keep these things in mind:
- Work on your core: Tall players often struggle with low balls. You need a rock-solid core to stay low without ruining your back.
- Embrace the reach: You don't have to be the fastest person on the court if you can cover the width of the baseline in two strides.
- Footwear matters: Maria was famous for her custom Nike shoes. If you're over 6 feet, your joints take a pounding. Don't skimp on support.
The mystery of how tall is Maria Sharapova might never be solved with a tape measure on live TV, but whether she's 6'2" or 6'3", her stature redefined what a power player looks like in the modern era. She proved that you can be a "towering" presence and still have the touch and finesse to win a Career Grand Slam.