Maria Sharapova announces engagement to British businessman Alexander Gilkes

Maria Sharapova (Misty Bushell, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Claudia Harmata of People Magazine on Thursday, women’s tennis superstar Maria Sharapova of Nyagan, Russia announced her engagement to British businessman Alexander Gilkes. Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis on February 26, after being one of the game’s greats since 2004 when she rocked the tennis world by stunning Serena Williams in the final of Wimbledon.

Through her career, she would win each major at least once, and the French Open twice. In addition to her 2004 Wimbledon title, Sharapova won the U.S. Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and the French Open in 2012, and 2014.

This is the second time Sharapova has been engaged. She was initially engaged to former NBA shooting guard Sasha Vujacic of Maribor, Slovenia in 2011. However, the engagement was called off in 2012 when the two separated. Then for four years from 2012 to 2015, Sharapova dated three-time grand slam tennis semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

Gilkes is from London, England, and at age 41, is eight years older than Sharapova, who is 33. The two began dating in 2018. Gilkes received his fortune by being the president and co-founder of Paddle8, an online auction house. The business model was selling contemporary art online, and connecting buyers with sellers of art, watches, jewellery, collectibles, and design. Gilkes would sell his company to The Native in 2019.

Gilkes recently launched Squared Circles. The organization contains entrepreneurs who are trying to help the business community. Based in Los Angeles, Sharapova is on the company’s advisory board.

Prior to Gilkes’ engagement to Sharapova, Gilkes was married to Bahraini fashion designer Misha Nonoo from 2012 to 2017. Nonoo has since married Mikey Hess, the grandson of Leon Hess, the founder of the natural gas and oil company, Hess Corporation.

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