From the Publisher
'Maria Sharapova’s Unstoppable May Just Be the Best Part of Her Comeback Tour.' . . . This is the bildungsroman of a controversial champion, a portrait of the athlete as an uncommonly driven young woman . . . It’s also a Horatio Alger–worthy tale of rags to riches, with a slightly nihilistic Russian twist. . . ” —Julia Felsenthal, Vogue
"Everybody ought to read it.” —Pam Shriver, tennis champion and ESPN commentator
"A fascinating and well-written (with the help of Vanity Fair journalist Rich Cohen) insight into her struggles, triumphs, obsession with Williams, Russian pessimism and the roots of that famous haughtiness." —Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian
"Fiercely honest . . . a refreshing look at the tennis superstar’s rags-to-riches story." —Hamptons
"The surprisingly compelling Unstoppable is at its best when recounting Sharapova’s fraught early life . . . It’s apt that Sharapova recruited non-fiction master Rich Cohen as her collaborator here. It’s Cohen’s polish that elevates Unstoppable." —David Shaftel, The Financial Times
“A determined journey from the bitter cold and desolation of Siberia to the warm (at times burning) glow of international superstardom . . . All the big matches are relived in a speedy, engaging way, and her prose exudes confidence as she describes her ability to dominate her peers on the tour and how she came to be considered one of the greatest female players of the game. Her writing becomes more vulnerable, frustrated, and interesting when she explores her struggles with Serena Williams." —Geoffrey Gray, Bookforum
"An inspiring memoir . . . Sure to satisfy longtime fans of women’s tennis." —Booklist
"Insightful . . . Sharapova’s eloquent self-awareness provides a rare glimpse into the disorienting push and pull of a famous athlete’s life." —Publishers Weekly
"Remarkable . . . An impressive immigration tale, an inspiring coming-of-age narrative, and a host of useful advice on navigating celebrity culture. Sharapova demonstrates consistent dedication and impressive wisdom for her age." —Kirkus Reviews
Library Journal
09/01/2017
Sharapova made her mark on tennis in 2004, winning Wimbledon at the age of 17. Since then, she has had numerous ups and downs, both on and off of the court. In this memoir, Sharapova relates how she first picked up a racquet as a toddler and soon fell in love with the game. After realizing his daughter's early potential, Sharapova's father impetuously moved her to Florida at the age of six to pursue their shared dream of her becoming the greatest player in the world. Her revelations about competing at the highest level are both insightful and fearsome. To be successful in professional tennis, she relates, one has to realize that every other player is a formidable opponent. She explains this rationale is why she has been perceived as aloof yet also has maintained a career in such a competitive environment. VERDICT Similar to Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography, this personal account relays the experiences of a high-level tennis player and the privations and plaudits that accompany such a life. [See Prepub Alert, 3/8/17.]—Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM
NOVEMBER 2017 - AudioFile
The tennis star reads her life story, which is split into two halves: her formative years as a young girl with her father after they immigrated to the United States, and then her career on the courts. She reads with little intonation, save for occasional introspective moments, but she is clear throughout her story. It isn’t the most stunning narration, but her background, take on her failed drug test, and glimpses of her life on the court, as well as relationships off of it, will be interesting to those who follow tennis. M.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-07-03
Professional tennis celebrity Sharapova relates her remarkable immigration saga and writes candidly about her career, family, and personal life.The author's father, Yuri, became interested in tennis by chance as an adult. When young Maria started tagging along with him to watch matches, Yuri recognized her natural ability and decided he would devote his life to developing her into the world's top female tennis player. Yuri persuaded his wife to surrender seeing Maria for at least a couple of years, and he and 7-year-old Maria spent the family savings on airplane tickets to Florida, where top youth tennis camps, especially the IMG Academy, trained future stars. Yuri and Maria spoke no English, did not contact any of the academies in advance, and had no idea how to find a residence, but through a series of fortunate, unlikely occurrences, Maria gained entry into IMG. With fierce determination, she drilled every day with her father and coaches, and eventually her mother was able to obtain a rare visa to enter the U.S., reuniting the family. After a major growth spurt, the young Sharapova quickly ascended the youth ranks. At age 17, she defeated the top seed, Serena Williams, to win Wimbledon, becoming the third-youngest woman to win the prestigious tournament. Williams appears often throughout the remainder of the book, as she becomes Sharapova's chief rival and the most dominant force in the women's game. For tennis players and fans, the memoir is filled with solid insights about on-the-court strategy and off-the-court psychology. "I can get fancy and sweet about it," she writes, "but at bottom my motivation is simple: I want to beat everyone….Ribbons and trophies get old, but losing lasts." For readers with no interest in tennis, the author delivers an impressive immigration tale, an inspiring coming-of-age narrative, and a host of useful advice on navigating celebrity culture. Sharapova demonstrates consistent dedication and impressive wisdom for her age.
