She Was Unrecognisable Next to Beckham — Then Broke Down in Tears on National TV
Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, recently made headlines for two very different reasons — one involving a glamorous reunion with David Beckham, and another, a fiery encounter with hot sauce that left her in tears on camera.
The tennis icon returned to Wimbledon this year, turning heads not just for her presence in the Royal Box on opening day, but for her striking new look. Fans were quick to comment that Sharapova looked almost unrecognisable, having swapped her signature long blonde hair for a darker, shorter style. Her transformation became even more visible when she posted a selfie with British football legend David Beckham on Instagram, captioned: “Let the (Wimbledon) games begin.”
But Sharapova’s composed image took a spicy twist weeks later during an appearance on Hot Ones, the hit YouTube and Amazon series hosted by Sean Evans, where celebrities field tough questions while eating progressively spicier chicken wings.
The 38-year-old began the challenge in high spirits, but as the wings intensified — especially after tasting the notorious “Da Bomb” sauce with its 135,000 Scoville heat units — tears started to stream down her face. Reaching for a red handkerchief to wipe her eyes, Sharapova joked, “Yeah. The tears are coming. Oh s***, wow. Oh my gosh. In my eye.”
Caught off guard by a particularly odd question — whether she’d prefer to be partnered with a cherry picker or a poacher — she blurted out, “What the f*** is a cherry picker? Can I swear on this show? I’ll say cherry picker, it sounds better.”
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Sharapova admitted: “This is as vulnerable as it gets… I usually never have makeup on while I cry, so…”
The former world No. 1, known for her icy composure on the court and a signature grunt once recorded at 101 decibels, also addressed the origins of that trademark sound. “I want to say it’s an intimidation factor, but that’d be a lie,” she said. “It just started when I was young and stuck — and, yes, it just kept getting louder.”
Before wrapping up, Sharapova didn’t shy away from critiquing tennis customs either. She slammed the tradition of forcing runners-up to deliver post-match speeches, referencing Carlos Alcaraz and Amanda Anisimova after their recent Wimbledon losses. “You’ve just lost the match of your life — and now you have to give a speech? That’s brutal.”
From iconic courts to viral interviews, Sharapova continues to surprise and entertain — even if it means shedding a few tears along the way.
