Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is winning at life. And tennis, a lot of the time. She has five Grand Slam singles titles, after all. But always life.
In the new issue of Self, which features her on the cover, the star discusses how she keeps up that amazing body – for athletic purposes, of course.
Crowned a “SELF Made” cover star, Maria is lauded for her status as a successful woman pursuing her passions while also prioritizing a healthy lifestyle.
How does she do it? Sharapova insists her sole focus is the tennis court and winning tennis tournaments, and her appearance isn’t even an issue.
As a side effect, it just happens to be amazing. Just saying. It’s a nice benefit.
“I have a competitive drive. It’s ferocious and powerful, and it’s about winning,” she explains. “When I’m on the court, I’m not thinking about how I look.”
“I do my ponytail in two seconds, and I’m not wearing a stitch of makeup,” adds the blonde beauty. “I’m confident in my skin, and I’m there to play the game.”
How does she keep up her toned physique from a dietary standpoint?
“Carbs are important for my sport, but it’s about finding the right balance between them and protein,” the 27-year-old athlete tells the publication.
“When I’m playing tournaments, I try to minimize things that can create inflammation, like lactose, and goat cheese is easier for me to process than butter.”
“For lunch, it’s a protein like chicken and then soup, because I’m Russian and we love soups. For dinner, I’ll have fish, like salmon or sea bass, and rice or potatoes.”
“In the morning, I have fruit, rye toast with goat cheese and ham.”
For more of Sharapova’s diet and success secrets, read her full interview with Self, and scroll through the gallery above. Because she looks amazing.