Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (born April 19, 1987) World No. 1 tennis player. Her parents are originally from Homiel, Belarus, but moved to Russia in 1986 in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Sharapova was born in Nyagan, Russia, the following year. While having Belorussian roots and residing in the USA, Sharapova holds Russian citizenship.At only 18 years of age she has become the world's highest paid female athlete.