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Sharapova won it all in the Serena era

June 09, 2016 17:27 IST

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Russia’s Maria Sharapova was handed a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation following her positive test for the banned drug meldonium at this year's Australian Open. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Former world No 1 Maria Sharapova was handed a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday following her positive test for the banned drug meldonium at this year's Australian Open.

In a statement, the ITF said the 29-year-old Russian, a five-time Grand Slam champion, ‘is the sole author of her own misfortune'.

Sharapova denounced the two-year ban as 'unfairly harsh' and said she would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

She was hoping to compete for Russia at the Rio Olympic Games.

Following the ban, which could also end of the career of the richest female athlete of the past decade, here's a look at the high points in Sharapova's career.

First tour title

After turning professional in 2001, Sharapova won her first tour title in Tokyo in 2003 and finished inside the top 50 for first time.

Won Wimbledon at the aged of 17

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Russia's Maria Sharapova poses with the trophy after beating Serena Williams of the United States in the ladies final at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on July 3, 2004. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

Sharapova announced her arrival on to the world stage in stunning fashion with a famous victory at Wimbledon 2004 when she was only 17, beating holder Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in the final.

Number one in the world

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Maria Sharapova reclaimed the top spot in 2012. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters.

After building on her first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon with some deep runs into the early 2005 majors, she raced up the rankings and reached the summit in August 2005, becoming the first Russian woman to top the world rankings.

Career Grand Slam

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Maria Sharapova is crowned the queen of Roland Garros. Photograph: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images.

In 2006, Sharapova won her second Grand Slam after defeating second seed Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open final.

In 2008, she beat Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-3 to win her third Grand Slam title and first Australian Open.

In 2012, she became the 10th woman to complete the career Grand Slam when she won the French Open for the first time. In the process, she put her name alongside tennis greats like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.

She defeated Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 in the final to complete her collection of Grand Slam trophies.

She also won a silver medal in her Olympic debut at the 2012 Games in London, losing to Serena Williams 6-0, 6-1 in the final.

Highest-paid female athlete

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Maria Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete for 11 years. Photograph: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

The highest-paid female athlete for 11 years, Sharapova earned much of her income through sponsor endorsements.

This year, though, Serena Williams narrowly edged her.

Sharapova, the businesswoman

Maria Sharapova

IMAGE: Maria Sharapova attends the Maria Sharapova Sugarpova Chocolate launch. Photograph: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images.

Her ferocity on the court, business acumen and glamorous looks combined to make her a marketing juggernaut and the overseer of successful ventures as her Sugarpova sweets.

Sharapova has more than 15 million fans and is the most followed female athlete on Facebook. S

She is one of tennis' biggest brands and one of the world's highest remunerated female sports stars, counting Porsche, Tag Heuer and Evian among her sponsors over the course of her career, earning her an estimated $20m per year (£14m).

Rediff Sports Desk