Swimsuit

Maria Sharapova Is the Picture of Power and Beauty in These 5 Photos From Turks and Caicos

The former professional tennis player was captured in the tropical paradise for the 2006 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Martha Zaytoun

Maria Sharapova poses in a bikini and stares at the camera.

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

When Russian former professional tennis player Maria Sharapova stepped on the set of her SI Swimsuit photoshoot in 2006, she was in the early years of an illustrious career. She traveled to Turks and Caicos with photographer Walter Iooss Jr. for her feature with the brand. 

The now 36-year-old first turned pro when she was 14, embarking on an almost two decade-long career on the professional tour. Though only five years into her career when she starred in the issue in 2006, she came to the beaches of Turks and Caicos with one Grand Slam (a 2004 win at Wimbledon) under her belt already—to which she added a US Open win in 2006, the same year the issue was released.

The impressive athlete would proceed to win three more Grand Slams before her retirement in 2020, becoming one of only 10 women to achieve a career Grand Slam (winning at least one title at each of the four major championships).

Sharapova brought all of her best tennis energy to the set of her 2006 photoshoot, posing in a series of Nike swimsuits, which she even paired with a matching tennis skirt in a couple of the snaps. In the tropical destination, the tennis pro joined the ranks of several other current and former players who have been featured in the annual issue, including Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Genie Bouchard.

Below are some of her stunning photos from the trip to Turks and Caicos.

Maria Sharapova poses with her hands on her hips in front of the ocean in a brown Nike bikini.
Maria Sharapova lays on the sand in a polka-dotted bikini.
Maria Sharapova lounges in a couch in a white bikini and tennis skirt.
Maria Sharapova sits in the incoming tide in a pink polka-dotted bikini.
Maria Sharapova stands on the sand in a black one-piece.

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Martha Zaytoun

MARTHA ZAYTOUN

Martha Zaytoun is a Lifestyle & Trending News writer for SI Swimsuit. Before joining the team, Martha worked on the editorial board of the University of Notre Dame’s student magazine and on the editorial team at Chapel Hill, Durham and Chatham Magazines in North Carolina. When not working, Martha loves to watercolor and oil paint, run or water ski. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a huge Fighting Irish fan.