Tennis great-turned-angel investor Maria Sharapova said she faced pressure to "soften her edges" because her on-court demeanor intimidated people, but she refused to apologize for the ruthless mentality that powered her career.
Sharapova Refused Pressure To Soften Her Edge
Speaking with Gayle King at the TIME100 Summit in New York earlier this year, Sharapova said she never wanted to reshape herself to meet others’ expectations.
"So from a young age, I had a very steely mentality. I had a fist pump that I was really known for," she said. After matches, people told her, "‘It’s so intimidating. You need to soften your edges. Can you add a filter?’"
Sharapova said she felt pressure to apologize "because I was a lady," but rejected it. "‘Pretty tough’ was my mentality, and I didn’t apologize for it," she said.
