Maria Sharapova talks to Shelley Rubenstein about life, travels and what makes her happy.

Maria Sharapova, 38, is an entrepreneur and a former world No 1 tennis player. In 2004, aged 17, she became the first Russian to win Wimbledon, defeating defending champion Serena Williams. She now splits her time between the United States and Europe, with her British fiancé, Alexander Gilkes, and their son, Theo, three.

I was born in Russia, but I love sunshine and have always gravitated towards environments where you can barbecue for 10 months of the year. When I won the 2012 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, part of the prize was a Porsche 911. For my first big spin in it I drove up the Californian coast on Highway One. I went to Big Sur and en route fell in love with Santa Barbara and San Ysidro Ranch, which is surrounded by citrus groves, rose gardens, cypresses and waterfalls and has a gorgeous pool.

We were living in Los Angeles, but kept returning to Santa Barbara, spending increasingly longer amounts of time in the area. Then my fiancé, Alexander, and I fell in love with a small cottage near Montecito. Santa Barbara County is a good contrast to life in LA, where much of my work is, and there’s a great community. It felt natural for us to buy a home here.

I adore being outdoors and when the weather is co-operating, I hike and try to do most of my workouts surrounded by nature. What I love about Santa Barbara are all the little pockets: Ojai is a small city to the east, while Santa Ynez is about 30 minutes north-west.

“I’m at my happiest when I can roam about in nature.”

As a family we like walking around the strand at Carpinteria Beach, ending up at Little Dom’s, where I indulge in its squid-ink pappardelle with shrimp and uni-butter scampi and mollica.

During Wimbledon I’d escape the spotlight by taking long walks on Wimbledon Common or I’d picnic in Hyde Park with my favourite dessert, strawberries and cream, which always tastes more delicious in London during the tournament. We usually spend several weeks in the UK during summer while visiting Alexander’s family, and I recently went back to Wimbledon with Theo to show him my name on the champion’s board. It was a full-circle moment, taking him to a place that was so meaningful in my career.

I was 19 when I went on my first holiday. I took my mother and a couple of girlfriends to Amanpuri, a luxury resort on the Thai island of Phuket. Everything had the wow factor, especially the food. I’m a big foodie and gained a few pounds because I was constantly enticed by some tempting rice dish. It was such a brilliant holiday that throughout my career, every November during our off-season I chose a different location to take family and friends to. We went to spectacular destinations like Turks and Caicos and Amanpulo, a remote island in the Philippines, with the clearest water I have ever seen. I would only take a week to 10 days off which was the longest break I could give my body.

When I played the French Open in Paris I’d live at the Park Hyatt near the Place Vendôme for three weeks, and whenever I return there the memories come flooding back. Hotel staff become like family when you stay for so long; while I was there for a meeting last year they gave Theo a little toy which they had engraved.

A few years ago my mom and I decided to travel through Scotland on the Royal Scotsman. It was my first time in the country and it was stunning. We explored Edinburgh before boarding, hiked in the misty Highlands and loved sharing a cabin for a couple of nights on board.

I’m on the board of Moncler which involves regular 24-hour trips to Milan. When one of our meetings finished early, I looked online and there were two seats left for the Madina ballet at La Scala, so I booked a ticket.

“I love that elements of travel can be so spontaneous, especially in Europe.”

During the summer, I take any chance to escape to Lake Como. I visited Passalacqua hotel with a girlfriend and we had such a wonderful time, I returned with Alexander for my birthday last April. It’s so mellow there; I just stare out of the window, looking at the mountains, hills and reflections in the lake.

One of my favourite things to do is plan travel and when we decided on the Basque region in Spain I booked a table at Asador Etxebarri, which has only about ten tables. The space is beautiful, and it doesn’t feel as inaccessible as some of the world’s best restaurants. We also went to Elkano, where most of the food is cooked on an outdoor wood-fire grill. It was exceptional.

I’d always wanted to visit Dubrovnik, but when I eventually got there in 2021 it wasn’t what I expected, probably because it was the height of summer and very busy. We rented a boat and found our way to Lopud, a small car-free island off the Dalmatian coast. We ate fresh fish, soaking up the simple and charming vibe while watching locals taking dips in the water.

I love Morocco and its energy, so one year we spent New Year’s Eve at Amanjena in Marrakesh. The resort has grand dusky rose-hued walls, but inside there’s a feeling of intimacy that’s really special. I was there for a friend’s birthday recently and it was a different experience without my family; I flung open the doors of my room and could hear birdsong and trickling water from the fountain.

“Finding the people that bring joy, finding the activities and the habits that make you happy, I think, are all part of evolving and growing.”

Alexander and I have been fortunate to travel to many special places around the world, but visiting Rwanda six years ago made a big impact. Encountering the gorillas in the rainforest was a profound experience. We stayed at Bisate, a safari lodge where the villas look like hobbit houses. You have to be at least 15 years old to hike to see the silverbacks, so I plan to go back with Theo when he’s old enough.

The Feel Good Q&A

Can you tell us three things that you do on a daily basis to feel better both physically and mentally?
I believe that a strong body leads to a strong mind, so if I have just 20 minutes, I like to do some type of workout, even if it’s just a walk; if I have to take a call, I’ll go outside. I love finding space outside and getting a little bit creative because I spent so many years in the gym. It’s nice to be able to take hikes, or to listen to a podcast while I work out. I definitely mix it up but I try to dedicate a bit of time during the day for my body because I think it leads to a strong mind.

I meditate, but not as consistently as I should, as I do think it sets such a strong presence in your life and you realize that your thoughts are just that — they’re just thoughts and they float away. Whether they’re good or bad it’s nice to feel that you’re in the moment, so this is a friendly reminder for myself that I should do more of that.

The third is, now that I’m a mom, spending time with my son. Quality time together brings me so much happiness, despite it being a lot of work and always changing as he’s growing up. It teaches me the small things that are really important.

As your game improved, how much did your focus towards mental wellness and mindfulness change?
Throughout the course of a long career, you always make shifts and changes based on where you are and what you need. What you need as a teenager is not exactly what you need toward the end of your career. You have to be willing and open to make those changes.

What is your number one goal for success?
Success evolves. It’s about the process, staying curious, and understanding what truly matters to you.

What are some of the most important tips you can give budding young athletes?
Stay true to who you are. As success grows, so do external influences — but it’s important to trust your instincts and remain the driver of your own journey.

Maria Sharapova is a Global Wellness Ambassador for AMAN https://www.aman.com