Maria Sharapova Is Stunning in These 5 Polka Dot Bikinis

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

Maria Sharapova may be best known for her career as a professional tennis player, but the Russian athlete donned her model hat for a feature in the 2006 SI Swimsuit Issue. She traveled to the stunning Turks and Caicos, where she posed in front of Walter Iooss Jr.’s lens for the occasion.

The former world No. 1 tennis player took home a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic games in London, as well as an incredible 36 WTA singles titles throughout her illustrious career. Ultimately, she retired from her sport in 2020.

Since then, Sharapova and her partner, Alexander Gilkes, have become proud parents. The couple, who are currently engaged, welcomed a son named Theodore last July.

“I was really ready for motherhood. It was something that I dreamed of forever. I have a really good relationship with my own mom—we’re really close and share a lot—and I’m an only child, so I felt like I was ready to have a child of my own and pass along my own experiences,” she told New Beauty last October of motherhood. “I’m really excited to watch this little boy grow up, although that is still incredibly hard because I’m still mostly trying to figure things out! Every day is a new day and every time you think you have something down, you realize you don’t. There’s always something new to learn and about them and about yourself. That’s incredibly beautiful, but it’s also challenging.”

Whether succeeding on the court or off, we love watching Sharapova thrive. Below are a few of our favorite snapshots from her SI Swimsuit feature of the past.

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!