Entertainment
Maria Sharapova expecting first child with fiance Alexander Gilkes: ‘Precious beginnings’Louise Griffin
Maria Sharapova announced the exciting news on her 35th birthday (Pictures: Getty / Instagram / Maria Sharapova)
Maria Sharapova has revealed she’s expecting her first child with her fiance, Alexander Gilkes.
The retired tennis legend shared the exciting news on her 35th birthday with a sweet photo of herself cradling her growing baby bump on the beach.
Tagging Alexander, she wrote in the caption: ‘Precious beginnings!!! 🤍👼🏻 Eating birthday cake for two has always been my specialty ☺️🐣🎂’.
Fans and friends are thrilled for the couple, with Lily Collins writing: ‘Ahhhh 😍😍😍😍 congrats you guys!!!!’.
Model Helena Christensen added: ‘Yessss mama and papa this is so wonderful ❤️😍❤️’.
Alexander, 42, simply commented a heart-eyes emoji.
The couple began dating in 2018 and got engaged in December 2020, with Maria writing at the time: ‘I said yes from the first day we met ❤️ This was our little secret, wasn’t it @gilkesa.’
Sportswoman Maria clearly had a birthday to remember, with the star thanking everyone for their messages on her big day.
‘Waking up in paradise and to so many beautiful birthday messages,’ she wrote, adding: ‘Thank youuuu’.
Maria hasn’t shared where she and Alexander are staying, but has been making us all kinds of jealous with idyllic snaps – safe to say it looks absolutely gorgeous!
The couple have been together since 2018 (Picture: Getty Images)
Known as one of the world’s best tennis players, Maria retired from the sport in 2019 after winning five Grand Slam titles and becoming a world No. 1.
She was, at one point, the highest-paid female athlete in history, after earning $29.7m (£24.4m) in 2015.
Her record was later broken by Naomi Osaka, who earned $37.4million (£30.7m) in 2020 from prize money and endorsements, setting a new record.
At the time of her retirement, she wrote for Vogue and Vanity Fair: ‘How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?
More: Tennis
‘How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love—one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys—a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years?
‘I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis—I’m saying goodbye.’
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