Unstoppable

My Life So Far

De: Maria Sharapova

Narrado por: Maria Sharapova

This program is read by the author.

From Maria Sharapova, one of our fiercest female athletes, the captivating—and candid—story of her rise from nowhere to tennis stardom, and the unending fight to stay on top.

In 2004, in a stunning upset against the two-time defending champion Serena Williams, seventeen-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, becoming an overnight sensation. Out of virtual anonymity, she launched herself onto the international stage. “Maria Mania” was born. Sharapova became a name and face recognizable worldwide. Her success would last: she went on to hold the number-one WTA ranking multiple times, to win four more Grand Slam tournaments, and to become one of the highest-grossing female athletes in the world.

And then—at perhaps the peak of her career—Sharapova came up against the toughest challenge yet: during the 2016 Australian Open, she was charged by the ITF with taking the banned substance meldonium, only recently added to the ITF’s list. The resulting suspension would keep her off the professional courts for fifteen months—a frighteningly long time for any athlete. The media suggested it might be fateful.

But Sharapova’s career has always been driven by her determination and by her dedication to hard work. Her story doesn’t begin with the 2004 Wimbledon championship, but years before, in a small Russian town, where as a five-year-old she played on drab neighborhood courts with precocious concentration. It begins when her father, convinced his daughter could be a star, risked everything to get them to Florida, that sacred land of tennis academies. It begins when the two arrived with only seven hundred dollars and knowing only a few words of English. From that, Sharapova scraped together one of the most influential sports careers in history.

Here, for the first time, is the whole story, and in her own words. Sharapova’s is an unforgettable saga of dedication and fortune. In this new audiobook, she brings us inside her pivotal matches and illuminates the relationships that have shaped her—with coaches, best friends, boyfriends, and Yuri, her coach, manager, father, and most dedicated fan, describing with honesty and affection their oft-scrutinized relationship. She writes frankly about the suspension. As Sharapova returns to the professional circuit, one thing is clear: the ambition to win that drove her from the public courts of Russia to the manicured lawns of Wimbledon has not diminished.

Sharapova’s Unstoppable is a powerful audiobook memoir, resonant in its depiction of the will to win—whatever the odds.

A brilliant course in resilience and nobility

Previously I said this book would be highly recommended, I would like to make a correction; this is a must read for all of us.
This is an extremely well-written memoir of a self-made multitalented world champion with a
an admirably strong character. The strongest feelings one can get between the lines are courage and honesty; a brave, fluent honesty that is sensible both in the author's tone and in her writing. She is generously taking the reader through a life rich in experiences and shares magnificent tips in resilience.
I think Maria Sharapova's vast knowledge of Russian and English literature has contributed a lot to one of the best written memoirs I have ever read.
At the end of a book that I never wanted to end, I felt humbled and filled with a strong sense of pride in the champion I have always admired.
The experience of reading this book was like sailing on crystal clear waters on a glass boat where you can see and appreciate the depth of the sea.

Honest and sincere

The fact that Maria was the narrator made this so authentic. She was open and honest and I now have such a new respect for her.

Great insight into one of the best athletes in the world.

I enjoy books from great performers where they talk about their lives, their victories and defeats, but also about what makes them who they are. Sharapova does a great job of effectively and clearly describing her life's journey both professionally and personally with just enough tour gossip to keep you laughing. Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about one of the best tennis players of all time or if you just appreciate listening to a great tale by an elite performer.

Loved it!

Loved it! The story of the making of Sharapova was the best part. Though the rest of it was very good too.

Inspiring life story even for non sport fan

Where does Unstoppable rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the top 3 books for me

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maria of course. As a successful immigrant myself I can relate to her life journey of humble beginning to all the struggles and success.

Which character – as performed by Maria Sharapova – was your favorite?

Yuri her father is the driving force and the visionary for her success