Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is using her free time to good use as she declared on social media her intention to start a short-course program at Harvard Business School.
Her announcement comes just a few weeks after being booted off the pro circuit for the next two years, after being found positive for meldonium—a heart drug that increases exercise capacity for athletes.
The five-time Grand Slam winner tweeted on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that she would be attending a two-week program in one of the top-ranked business schools this summer.
Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can’t wait to start the program! 🎓📓 pic.twitter.com/EOoKYhaQli
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) June 25, 2016
“Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can’t wait to start the program!” the 29-year-old wrote, adding a graduation cap symbol along with a photo of herself on a bench marked “Harvard Business School.”
It’s still unclear what course work Sharapova would be completing at the university. A Harvard spokesperson had no immediate comment on her status, according to an ESPN report.
Outside of tennis, the Russian star is a savvy businesswoman who sells the Sugarpova brand of candy, which includes chocolates and gummy snacks, internationally.
Sharapova’s venture toward getting a Harvard business degree won’t be a first for a professional athlete, as former NFL cornerback and president of the NFL Players Association, Domonique Foxworth, recently received an MBA from Harvard.
One of her fiercest rivals, Venus Williams, also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana University East online last year. Khristian Ibarrola
Screen grab from @mariasharapova’s Instagram feed.
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