Maria Sharapova retired from tennis early this year, just after she lost first round at the Australian Open. She had been a shadow of her former self ever since she returned to the tour in 2017, following her suspension for doping. I still think about the audacity she had, to lie so coldly with a doping cover story that still makes zero sense. Anyway, Maria returned to the tour in 2017 and in the two and a half years that followed, she was beset with a laundry list of injuries. She was constantly pulling out of tournaments after taking wild cards, and she consistently lost in the first or second round whenever she did play. While Maria still had her defenders (coughChrisEvertcough), the jig was up. The only reason Dopapova won before 2016 was because of the performance-enhancing drugs.
Anyway, the doping, lies and injuries were not the only thing to happen to Maria during this recent timeline. In 2018, she met Alexander Gilkes, a posh British dude who went to Eton with Prince William. Gilkes and Prince William are still friendly and travel in the same circles. Gilkes was also married to Misha Nonoo for 13 years – they divorced in 2016 (and Misha remarried in 2018, in a wedding attended by Ivanka Trump and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex). Anyway, Gilkes and Maria seemed quite loved-up. And now they’re engaged, as you can see from her Instagram.
Does anyone have any idea what “This was our little secret, wasn’t it” means? I take it that they’ve been secretly engaged for a while and they’re only announcing it now? But… who was checking for it? Like, was it a secret or did no one care? Hell, maybe it’s a reference to a pregnancy, God knows.
Alexander works for Paddle 8, the online art auction house which used to employ Princess Beatrice. I think Maria lives in London with Alexander now, or at least she seems to have been locked down in London this year with him. Will they split their time between London and her institutional-looking LA home?
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red and Instagram.
Good luck to her with those aristos. Maybe they will think she’s a Russian oligarch, they accept those types into their circle.
I think Russians have an easier time of “breaking into” the circle than most, including their fellow Brits
She’s white and has exhibited a pattern of disparaging WoC. She’ll be right at home with those aristos.
I don’t know about oligarchs, but Eastern Europeans are so very loved in the UK, especially after Brexit.
Don’t worry she’s the epitome of an ice queen, everything bounces right off her, they will not be able to phase her.
Gosh, he’s handsome! I always enjoy a man who is game for silly stuff like those videos. What is Maria’s source of income now? Does she still get endorsements?
She was the highest paid female athlete in the world for several years so doesn’t need to earn if she invested wisely. She also has various business interests including the candy company Sugapova (urgh). As someone points out the drug she was on was legal for most of her career and she was punished because she’s kept on taking it afterwards. Unpopular view, but while her career peak probably came at 16 when she beat Serena in the Wimbledon final, she was a hell of a good player and very tough mentally. I doubt the medication played a huge part and she certainly shouldn’t lose any titles. The records of the roided up Eastern European athletes like Jarmilla Kratochvilova still stand. To be clear, I feel very sorry for those athletes because they likely had very little choice. The same is not true of the US’ Flo Jo. It’s sad because all those athletes would likely have been world beaters on a level playing field. Maria also had a choice and made the wrong one.
Thank you for this! I’m going to spit nails when this cheater is inevitably inducted in the hall if fame. Her doping regime, uncovered in the Russian Olympics scandal, was long-term and intense. Any wins from those years should be expunged. I also wouldn’t mind if Bolletieri and IMG finally admitted changing her age. She was listed the same age for three years at the academy.
Is Sharapova older than 33?
The drug was legal for most of her career.
*most not all. So it’s not cheating until it’s caught?
It enhanced her performance. That is why it was banned. So legal or not, she was cheating by using a drug off-label to enhance her performance. And she was shite without it.
He resembles Fredo somewhat..
Not to be a nerd but Gilkes founded Paddle8, but sold the company in 2018, and now it’s like limping for life, if at all (art is my industry). He’s an venture investor now, started a new venture studio that launched in September.
I ask myself, yet again, how can these people spend exorbitant amounts of money to look so…unattractive? I imagine that chartreuse dress cost plenty but must be the ugliest, most unflattering sack that I’ve seen. Is there some kind of modern aesthetic where you try to look bad? There is no other answer for a dress like that.
It was Princess Eugenie who worked for Paddle 8, not Princess Beatrice.
A very happy boy? Ew! Go for a man (or woman or whatever) instead.
I have to say I can’t tell the between Misha And Maria in photos with him. Boy had a type
Yeah, his type is extremely wealthy. Read my comment below.
Her mental toughness is widely acknowledged, and maybe a bigger contributor to her wins than whatever drugs she was using. But when she stopped doping her body couldn’t recover and heal… and that can undermine your confidence. It’s a wicked web we weave, Maria.
That said, I was never a fan. Glad she’s not on the tour anymore and her departure has allowed focus on other players.
OK, I know Alexander. He was only married to Misha for a 4 years. They got married in Venice at the Peggy Guggenheim museum when she was only 25. He pursued her since she was a teenager because her family is absurdly wealthy. He is the consummate social climber. When he started dating Maria he claimed he wasn’t attracted to her because she was “so big”. Honestly, these two deserve each other. She earned millions by cheating and he is marring her millions and social connections. They are nauseating They split time between her place in Manhattan Beach in LA and his place in Nolita in Manhattan.
PS Paddle 8 was a bust. He was near bankruptcy when he met Maria. I know, my ex lost a shit ton of money he invested in it. Alex is now involved in a new venture that yet again leverages his celebrity connections.
Why did he and Misha get divorced?
@midge thx for the inside scoop on this pair. He’s gross and she’s gross- seems perfect. I expect to see them in nolita when we return to nyc. Boo.