Breakthrough year: Sharapova takes the world by storm in 2004
Then aged just 17, Maria Sharapova enjoyed a fabulous season in 2004 with success on grass at Birmingham and Wimbledon among the highlights.
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Maria Sharapova enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2004.
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The Russian beat Tatiana Golovin in the final of the DFS Classic in Birmingham.
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She also won the doubles there alongside Maria Kirilenko.
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They defeated Lisa McShea and Milagros Sequera in the final.
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At Wimbledon, the 17-year-old beat Anne Keothavong, Daniela Hantuchova, and Ai Sugiyama en route to the semifinals.
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Sharapova reached the Wimbledon final by beating Lindsay Davenport 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-1.
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In the final, Sharapova beat top seed Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.
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It was Sharapova's maiden Grand Slam title, and she became one of the youngest-ever champions at SW19.
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She followed that in October with a win in the final against Poland's Marta Domachowska at the Hansol Korea Open Tennis Championships.
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Sharapova then won the Japan Open by beating Mashona Washington of the US in the final 6-0, 6-1.
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Sharapova then crowned her year by winning the Billie Jean King trophy as the WTA Year-End Finals champion.
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