I woke up yesterday morning with an inbox, in full capacity of love and compassion.
The first email I immediately opened was from my best friend, you know, the type of person who can make you smile and cry with only one word and who I spent the evening on the phone with, checking up on me, how was I doing?
On average, I love the mornings. New day, new start. It is fair to say that this day was not average. Nothing came to mind at 6am, except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so. I wish I didn't have to go through this, but I do - and I will.
I needed to sweat, to push through and grind as I have done most of my life, so I made my way to the gym. That's when I realized a bunch of tinted windowed cars were following me. The good old paparazzi, back on the trail.
I have not been online much except the odd search for a new antique coffee table (random, I know), but my friends made a collage for me with all your beautiful messages and hashtags that you created (#IStandWithMaria and #LetMariaPlay). I spent the afternoon reading them next to my dog, who couldn't quite understand why this was more important than the walk he was expecting to take.
In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans. Within hours of my announcement, you showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession.
I wanted to let you know that your wonderful words put a smile on my face. I'd like to play again and hope to have the chance to do so. Your messages give me great encouragement. This message isn't anything else but to say thank you. Thank you very much.
- Maria Sharapova
Victoria Ling
I stand by you through thick and thin. I have done so since you came into the pro circuit (sorry i dont really follow the juniors). Today I even changed back my profile photo to a photo I posed for at my last AO in 2014 and that I have use for when the GS come around.
I am TEAM SHARAPOVA and I stand with you xxx
I am TEAM SHARAPOVA and I stand with you xxx
5 yrsReport
Amy M K Goldman
You have told us that you're reading these comments, Maria, so when you see any negativity, just skip over it.
This is a test which will show you who your real friends are, and who is covering for the sport.
Be strong. That's what we women excel at despite all the adversity hurled our way. I know you're going to be back, you don't quit, and you surely won't now. Tennis needs you. We need you. Between your issues and those of your friend Rafa, I'd like a bit of good news:-)
Thank you for all you've done through your charitable work and all you will do in the future. #MariaIsAnAce
This is a test which will show you who your real friends are, and who is covering for the sport.
Be strong. That's what we women excel at despite all the adversity hurled our way. I know you're going to be back, you don't quit, and you surely won't now. Tennis needs you. We need you. Between your issues and those of your friend Rafa, I'd like a bit of good news:-)
Thank you for all you've done through your charitable work and all you will do in the future. #MariaIsAnAce
5 yrsReport
Katie Brooks Elliott
Maria- you probably don't remember me, but we went to IMG together. You were about 10 when I was a full-timer at the academy and I was about 16. Anyways, you were a great kid- so kind, a champions heart and a phenomenal player. Since you turned professional I have always made it clear to my friends and family that you deserve to win! Anyways, I believe you will get out there and do great things again! As a young girl you never quit even when you were playing opponents years older than you were (it was amazing)! I think your grunt came from having to hit the ball so hard to beat kids twice your size!! Anyways, keep fighting and look me up if you are ever in Aspen! Sending you well wishes during what I'm sure is a very tough time.
5 yrsReport
Izzy Miranda
Whatever you do , we will always be there by your side . your an amazing , terrific player maria & I hope you can play again . your an inspiration to all of us . what ever you do , don't let no one bring you down ! #IStandwithMaria #LetMariaPlay
5 yrsReport
Paola Pacciotti
sorry but your words sound difficult to believe. you are a player at international level and you do not check the list of substances which are forbidden? your staff was so naif? I am also thinking about who has lost against you when you were under the effect of this drug. Women who palyed against someone that was not in normal athletic conditions. Your friends and fans can support you and it is understandable and human, but you should be more honest and humble: silence sometimes is the best choice.
5 yrsReport
Martin Beaulieu
We are not define by our mistakes, we are define by how we grow from them. I have been a fan the day I first saw you play and I will be forever. Stay strong and look ahead, you have lots of tennis to play still 
!
!5 yrsReport
Michela Goria
Everybody Makes mistakes, and everybody deserves a second chance. You are more than that Maria, and I can't wait to see you on the Court again, beautiful strong and winning as always! I STAND WITH MARIA
5 yrsReport
Trish DL
You will always be my inspiration and I will always look up to you as my role model. Stay strong Maria. We're behind you 100%. We hope to see you back on court soon. Lots of love from Manila ❤️❤️❤️
5 yrsReport
Cristina Chow
Your inspiration and your fight for the game on and off court is why I play tennis! Even though I was sad about the news, I will always stand by one of the best female athletes to grace this earth! You had my support, have my support and will have my full support always! Love you Masha, and see you on the courts soon!!! Lots of ❤️❤️ from Canada
5 yrsReport
Carnalla Gustavo
You will be always an inspiration for my life, I'm a dot in your world! But I'm sure you'll be back on your feet and be again, that great life role model that the world needs!
5 yrsReport
Darris Plumb Faust
I have always loved watching you play tennis and supporting you. I still support you and am looking forward to seeing you back on the courts and feel sure you will be back. I am so sorry this has happened. You have been through so much with your various injuries and have always managed to come back. I believe this is a temporary setback and can't wait to see you back playing the game you love....from a 78+ year-old avid tennis player.
5 yrsReport
Jollean Banngertir
Maria, I don't know how to use Twitter etc..., but I do know Facebook. My name as you can see is Jollean and I am 54 years old, old enough to be your mother, but may I tell you how much I adore and admire you? You are my favorite female athlete in the whole world for so many reasons. Your devotion to the sport is unmeasurable, even more so than Serena's, your work ethic is on point, and I love your brand of tennis in every way. I love the fact that you are also a business woman and that you use the money that you get from your business ventures for your foundation that helps so many people in the world. I am not at the BNP this year which is probably a good thing since you and Roger are also not there, but I will be there next year and I hope to see you play. I am a big fan of yours and I just hope that you learned from this mistake. Take care, You Fan
5 yrsReport
Kimberly Joy Vispo - Gierran
Tennis is nothing without Maria Sharapova..
I love you since i was in my secondary school, i collect all your newspaper clips and all the news about you and pinned it on our wall, which eventually made our house looked like a museum of your faces. Your strength inside the court and your elegance and beauty outside made me your #1 fan. Now i am 27 years old, i still admire you. You've been an inspiration to a lot. You will get through all this MaSha. We love you.
#ISTANDFORMARIA
#LetMariaplay
I love you since i was in my secondary school, i collect all your newspaper clips and all the news about you and pinned it on our wall, which eventually made our house looked like a museum of your faces. Your strength inside the court and your elegance and beauty outside made me your #1 fan. Now i am 27 years old, i still admire you. You've been an inspiration to a lot. You will get through all this MaSha. We love you.
#ISTANDFORMARIA
#LetMariaplay
5 yrsReport
Pia Troncoso Morgado
10 years ago approximately my father said me, you will be like her, you will play tennis so good like her. Since then you has been my favorite tennis player, my "teacher" (youtube) in every moment that I needed.
I am from Chile, I woke up at night 3-4-5 AM to see you in Singapur, UsOpen, Australian Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros and every match that you are inside of the court.
Today and all the days that coming I will be waiting for see you... "a new game of Sharapova"
My dream is see you play live and shout you from the seats. When you came to Chile I couldn't go, I was a very young girl, but I never lose my hope to stay at the same place that you and see you playing tennis, in Chile or in somewhere on a court.
From Chile! Thanks for be this sport for me the best sport ever! Thanks for be my favorite tennis player, thanks for teach me that anything is imposible and that the last ball have to play and win.
I will be waiting for your matches!!
(Sorry for my English, I don't speak that very well).
I am from Chile, I woke up at night 3-4-5 AM to see you in Singapur, UsOpen, Australian Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros and every match that you are inside of the court.
Today and all the days that coming I will be waiting for see you... "a new game of Sharapova"
My dream is see you play live and shout you from the seats. When you came to Chile I couldn't go, I was a very young girl, but I never lose my hope to stay at the same place that you and see you playing tennis, in Chile or in somewhere on a court.
From Chile! Thanks for be this sport for me the best sport ever! Thanks for be my favorite tennis player, thanks for teach me that anything is imposible and that the last ball have to play and win.
I will be waiting for your matches!!
(Sorry for my English, I don't speak that very well).
5 yrsReport
Lydia Blanář
You showed integrity and courage, I think you're an amazing role model. Hopefully a decision will be made soon to allow you to continue doing what you love. I have been watching you since you were a young girl and something tells me this is all a terrible misunderstandin
Fingers crossed!5 yrsReport
Martyn Cardozo
A true inspiration of the game, and without her women's tennis would be the loser, everyone in life makes a mistake, some don't have the courage to admit them or the desire to fight back! I'm proud to call myself a Maria fan, and know I will get the chance too see you play t the highest level again. #IStandWithMaria #LetMariaPlay
5 yrsReport
Thaís Matias
I love you sooooo much! And your SharaFamily will always be with you. I'm so proud of you and for everything you have done. I know you'll come back stronger than ever. Keeping smiling, cause you are loved. Very much! Stay positive.
5 yrsReport
Goossan Aljanian
You are in my thoughts as well, at this difficult time. just focus on your self and dont loose hope. better days will come
5 yrsReport
Marina Jovanovic
I hope we'll be able to see you again on the court, simply tennis is not tennis without you... but put on your mind that every end is a new begining! Life is going on! Always my idol, always on your side! Ly Maria ❤
5 yrsReport
Richard Schrank
Thankyou for the little letter to your fans. I appreciate it very much. You will be fine. Just keep your chin up and grind on my thoughts are with you and most of all my prayers. I hope the press doesn't bother you but I'm sure you will deal with it like you always have. I'm 74 years old but I do keep up with your sport. Lol. God bless you and keep fighting.
5 yrsReport
Tiffany Payton
I fully stand by you! I've been a fan for 12 years and counting. You are an inspiration!! Hope all works out 100% so that I can see you back on that court soon. Keep your head high and take it easy!!
5 yrsReport
Giulia Bianchi
From Italy. ... you are very strong.... and also in this situation you will be strong !!!! You can fight and you can win always! For me you are a idol, the best player of tennis... and I don’t change my opinion . I was with Maria yesterday, I’m with Maria to day, and I will with Maria tomorrow!!! #istandwithmaria #letmariaplay
5 yrsReport
Zabrina Shih Yun Liang
You are a very motivated individual and a wonderful person. I believe what you say is true about why you had to take that drug. I hope everything works out in the end. You deserve to be on the court!
5 yrsReport
Lubomír Dočkal
Hi Maria I don´t understand cause I can speek more German than E. But I believe, that you will be soon back. Your heart is a very big a can see it! I am from Czech Rep. I love You
5 yrsReport
Moufida Bhr
I don't know why I feel like I love Maria now more than ever. And this msg really brought tears to my eyes. I didn't say it before, but now, I'm saying it #LetMariaPlay again, and obviously yes #IStandWithMaria 
5 yrsReport
Jakub Pytko
Well I am sorry for that Maria I know this is hard situation for you and I hope you come back to play soon. I hold fingers crossed with you. Everything will be fine please don"t be sad. Head up Maria.
5 yrsReport
Dalbir Thind
With you, by you, for you - Always. No matter what. Life has its tribulations and this too shall pass, take it as a hard serve served - just gotta get your feet shuffled and well balanced and smash the issue back in life, as you do at court. You will win - just keep up the attitude reflected in your post. We always have, we do and we will always love you. God bless.
5 yrsReport
Thym Quardashian
Ohhh Maria...
If I would never watch your RG match in 2007, my life would be very different. I would treat my disease and my professional life so different... I learn strength, beauty, competitiveness
I can imagine how it's difficult for you to pass this through, but you will. I saw your shoulder injury back in 2009, I saw your fight to beat again the Williams sister, I saw so many disappointed moment in your career, and all the people saying "she's over". With you, it's never over until you say it is.
I'm so proud to be your big fan, and I will always believe that it was just a stupid mistake which see how human you are.
You are my hero, and no one can break this feeling.
You are the best inspiration. I love you from all my heart and my soul
Take care and see you soon, we will be there.
If I would never watch your RG match in 2007, my life would be very different. I would treat my disease and my professional life so different... I learn strength, beauty, competitiveness
I can imagine how it's difficult for you to pass this through, but you will. I saw your shoulder injury back in 2009, I saw your fight to beat again the Williams sister, I saw so many disappointed moment in your career, and all the people saying "she's over". With you, it's never over until you say it is.
I'm so proud to be your big fan, and I will always believe that it was just a stupid mistake which see how human you are.
You are my hero, and no one can break this feeling.
You are the best inspiration. I love you from all my heart and my soul
Take care and see you soon, we will be there.
5 yrsReport
Romy Ruts
What a beautiful message!! She almost made me cry!! This is the Masha we know and she will never give up no matter what! This is why she is mine inspiration but also the one from a lot of other people out there! The way to succes is to go through like Masha show us every single time! I love you Maria and i will always be there for you 💕💕💕
5 yrsReport
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