On Monday, Maria Sharapova and Magic Johnson were both in attendance at Billie Jean King’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Sharapova, standing at 6′ 2″, appeared nearly as tall as Johnson, who is 6′ 9″, when the two posed together at the event. Sharapova, 37, was wearing heels, which contributed to her height relative to Johnson, who is 65 years old.
The appearance marked a rare public outing for Maria Sharapova, who retired from tennis five years earlier, as she participated in the celebration of tennis icon Billie Jean King’s achievement. At 81, King became the first woman to receive a star in the new sports entertainment category on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sharapova, looking stunning in a long, flowing pleated dress cinched at the waist, completed her ensemble with a brown clutch and matching heels. King was joined by notable figures, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, in celebrating this prestigious honor.
At the event, the Hall of Fame tennis player remarked to the crowd, “The important thing is, I don’t want to be the last one.” Following the ceremony, Sharapova and other guests attended a celebration hosted by PEOPLE and e.l.f. Cosmetics at The Aster in Los Angeles, California. Magic Johnson looked stylish in a grey suit paired with white sneakers.
In a notable return to Wimbledon last year, Sharapova appeared nearly unrecognizable. Visiting in a non-playing capacity, she was welcomed back to the iconic tennis venue for an afternoon of posing on Centre Court. Sharapova, who rose to fame in 2004 by defeating top seed and defending champion Serena Williams to claim her first Grand Slam at the age of 17, was once renowned for her trademark long blonde hair. Since retiring in 2020, she has embraced a more natural look, having abandoned her signature blonde hairstyle.
Throughout her illustrious career, Sharapova became the first Russian player to achieve the career Grand Slam, winning titles in Melbourne, New York, Paris, and London. She also became the third-youngest woman to triumph at Wimbledon. However, her retirement followed a period of injury struggles, compounded by the fallout from a failed drugs test.
In 2016, Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a substance banned earlier that year, and was subsequently suspended for two years. Her suspension was later reduced to 15 months after it was determined that she had taken the drug under her doctor’s advice.#newsafro_
