On the opening day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, June 30, former champion Maria Sharapova, now 38, turned heads with a striking new look while posing for a heartwarming photo alongside football icon David Beckham. Shared on Sharapova’s Instagram with the caption “Let the [Wimbledon] games begin,” the image captured the pair smiling brightly in the Royal Box on Centre Court, as reported by *Express Sport* and *Daily Star*. Sharapova, once known for her long blonde locks during her 19-year tennis career, sported a shorter, darker hairstyle, rendering her almost unrecognizable from the powerful athlete who dominated courts, including her stunning 2004 Wimbledon victory over Serena Williams at age 17.
The Russian star, a five-time Grand Slam champion with titles at the US Open (2006), Australian Open (2008), and French Open (2012, 2014), was dubbed the “world’s hottest athlete” by *Maxim* four times. Her transformed appearance, paired with a chic, modern style, contrasted sharply with her on-court persona, sparking buzz among fans. Posts on X, like @DExpress_Sport, noted, “Ex-Wimbledon champion looks unrecognisable posing for wholesome picture with David Beckham,” while @DailyStar_Sport highlighted her “dramatic” change. This wasn’t the first time Sharapova and Beckham, a regular at Wimbledon, crossed paths; they previously mingled at a Stella Artois event with celebrities like Matt Damon and Ludacris, per *The Mirror US*.
Sharapova’s 2004 Wimbledon triumph, where she became the third-youngest women’s champion, remains iconic but reportedly sparked a tense rivalry with Williams, who, according to Sharapova’s 2017 autobiography *Unstoppable: My Life So Far*, “hated” her for witnessing her vulnerability. Now retired since 2020, Sharapova remains a high-profile figure, frequently gracing red carpets and leveraging endorsement deals. Her presence at Wimbledon, alongside Beckham, who recently underwent wrist surgery, added star power to a day featuring Carlos Alcaraz’s title defense and Emma Raducanu’s return, per *The Mirror*. Fans on X, like @MirrorSport, celebrated the “unrecognizable” champion’s reunion with Beckham, a moment that blended nostalgia with her evolved, glamorous persona.
