Five-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 player Maria Sharapova announced on Friday that she had given birth to a son named Theodore.
Five-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 player Maria Sharapova announced on Friday that she had given birth to a son named Theodore.
He is the first child of the 35-year-old Russian tennis star and British businessman Alexander Gilkes, 42, who announced their engagement in December 2020.
"The most beautiful, challenging, and rewarding gift our little family could ask for," Sharapova posted Friday on Instagram, indicating in Roman numerals that Theodore was born on July 1.
Only ten women have won all four major singles titles at least once in their careers, including Sharapova, who announced her pregnancy in April.
At 17, Sharapova won her first major championship at Wimbledon in 2004. She went on to win the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and the French Open in 2012 and 2014.
In addition, she won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics before falling to Serena Williams of America in the championship match.
Also read: Lewandowski set for Barcelona move; will Bayern Munich now make way for Ronaldo?
Congratulatory messages poured in for the former Russian tennis ace and Gilkes across social media platforms after the couple made the formal announcement. Here's a look at some of the messages:
Welcome to the world baby Theodore!👼🏻❤️🥰 Congrats & Alexander! pic.twitter.com/DXGcrWrtV9
— teamsharapova (@team_sharapova_)She’s a mother now. ❤️
babypova 🥹
slampova 🥹
mamapova🥹 pic.twitter.com/KJbpiNyBt7
OMG SHAKING I can’t write anything 😭
I’m crying I LOVE YOU MAMA ❤️ so happy for you pic.twitter.com/kEbIAOqwDv
And its a BOY
Maria Sharapova and Alexander Gilkes welcome baby Theodore.
Congratulations ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nCNJpKXvG1
Maria Sharapova is a Mom now! Son Theodore he is so cute! 💙Congratulations to her and Alexander! 😍❤️https://t.co/xvhw0r7eMo pic.twitter.com/97Ng0hO0oy
— LaWanda (@lawanda50)Maria Sharapova is a mom! Giving birth to a baby boy.
Congratulations, pic.twitter.com/0GrYf9NBmX
Sharapova has become a mother. End of the crush. Only respect now. Lol!
— Nole: No1 limited edition (@tesledison)Imagine being the son of Maria Sharapova though, the mind he’ll have 😭😍
— Matthew. (@MFallingStar18)OMGGGG SHARAPOVA IS A MOM!!!!! AND A JULY BABY JUST LIKE ME <3. I love this so much for her. One of the luckiest babies ever!!! pic.twitter.com/xmi4EisyZi
— Arpit (@rafasbodyguard)Maria Sharapova was my childhood crush, since way back in 2004 when she broke into Wimbledon as a 16- year old. Today, she announced a baby with her partner.
The inner child inside me just died, heartbroken.
July 1st, 2022 👶🍼👨👩👦 https://t.co/aWqBeA3vNX pic.twitter.com/fmgHQPSjgI
— Sharapova News (@NewsSharapova)