Exclusive: Tennis Great Maria Sharapova on Why She Loves the U.S. Open, Her Friendship With Serena Williams, and Her Favorite Hotels

"I used to travel with a lot of bags because I had just so many things for my profession,"

"One of the most liberating aspects of being retired is that I love traveling with a carry-on. Even if I feel like I under-packed, it feels so liberating to travel light."

"Now I'm a lover of hotel baths because when I'm at home, especially with my son, I don't have time for a proper bath,"

"You really appreciate the evolution of the game, whether it is the clothing or shoes that were worn, or the racquets, strings, or balls used-you're able to witness it all in"

Maria Sharapova retired from professional tennis in 2020 after playing more than 800 matches and winning five Grand Slam titles. She now prefers traveling light with only a carry-on and finds the reduced baggage liberating. She appreciates simple travel pleasures such as soaking in hotel baths and enjoying a morning specialty coffee, visiting local shops like Springline Coffee in Newport, Rhode Island. Sharapova moved from Russia to Florida at age seven to train in 1995. In 2025 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and enjoys visiting the museum to observe the evolution of clothing, shoes, racquets, strings, and balls.

Read at Travel + Leisure