Swimsuit

6 Photos of Maria Sharapova in Turks and Caicos That Will Inspire a Luxury Beach Vacation

The retired tennis player was featured in the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2006.

Cara O’Bleness

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Turks and Caicos.

Retired professional tennis player Maria Sharapova posed for the 2006 SI Swimsuit Issue in Turks and Caicos, where she was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr.

The Russian former world No. 1 tennis player first picked up a racket at a very young age, and eventually turned pro when she was just 14. Sharapova has 36 WTA singles titles to her name and competed in the 2012 London Olympics, where she took home a silver medal. In 2020, she retired from her sport at the age of 32.

Today, the 36-year-old is a mom and investor. She and her partner, Alexander Gilkes, welcomed a son named Theodore last July, while Sharapova’s business portfolio includes wellness brands like Supergoop! and Therabody.

“This idea of having a healthy balance, whether it’s [your personal] life or your work, doesn’t exist,” Sharapova recently told Glossy of entrepreneurship. “You have to find what’s right for you, but never forget the small tasks. …It’s so easy to lose that perspective of being hungry when you’re on the successful path.”

While it seems like it was just yesterday, below are six of our favorite photos from Sharapova’s stunning SI Swimsuit feature in Turks and Caicos 17 years ago.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.