Maria Sharapova has been on a tear this year, unbeaten in her first 15 matches since the start of 2008. And she’s covered quite a bit of real estate on and off the court to get there, starting off in Hong Kong for an exhibition, then hitting the Australian capital, where she recorded her third Grand Slam title win.
Just after winning in Melbourne, she crossed two oceans to get to Israel for her Fed Cup debut before trekking to her Los Angeles home for some rest, and then heading back to the Middle East for the Total Qatar Open. She is currently in Dubai for the Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships.
Now that is a lot of frequent flyer mileage and some serious jet lag. So what is the highest paid female athlete in the world to do to get some rest from the monotony of travel and hotel rooms? Own a few pricey pads around the world.
While Sharapova currently owns two homes, a mansion in Long Boat Key, Florida, and a posh condo in Manhattan Beach, California, it appears that she is expanding into new territory, purchasing a luxury rooftop apartment near the Israeli coast.
It seems that warm weather agrees with the 20-year-old Russian, who turns 21 in April. Perhaps this was an early birthday present for herself?
The Haaretz newspaper reports that her 350-square-meter (3768-square-foot) penthouse is located in Ir Yamim, just south of Netanya, a beach resort frequented by tourists. The apartment has a rooftop with room for a swimming pool and boasts three balconies, which “offer a panoramic view over the Mediterranean Sea.”
The Russian News and Information Agency reports that the deal was signed for 7.5 million Israeli shekels ($2 million) around the time Sharapova was in Israel for Fed Cup. Not cheap, but Sharapova has plenty of purchasing power with endorsement deals worth over $20 million a year.
The purchase may serve as a stopping ground for the fifth-ranked Russian as she jet-sets to meet her increasing number of commitments in the Middle East.
Besides being in Israel for Fed Cup in early February, Sharapova was scheduled to play back-to-back tournaments in Doha and Dubai (she later pulled out of Dubai with a viral illness) and will be back in November for the Sony Ericsson year-end Championships, which will be held in Doha after spending the last few years in Madrid. She was also present for the launch of the Dubai Lifestyle City project and the opening of an IMG tennis academy in the Emirate State in November of 2007.
Sharapova joins Roger Federer in owning a home in the region. In 2006, he purchased an apartment in Dubai, where he spends time training and relaxing when not on tour. The warm climate and central location make this area of the world a favorite among players, who often use it as a transit on their way to the Far East and Australia.