'A very natural evolution': Maria Sharapova on venturing into podcasting with 'Pretty Tough'

A new chapter beyond tennis

The five-time Grand Slam winner unveiled her podcast on Wednesday, marking a shift from her celebrated career on the court to new ventures in media and entrepreneurship.

Speaking on The Daily Show, Sharapova described her growing portfolio of pursuits as a natural “evolution.”

“Apparently, that’s evolution,” she remarked.

Blending strength with vulnerability

Explaining the idea behind Pretty Tough, Sharapova said the podcast reflects the balance between resilience and emotional openness.

“Well, it’s the juxtaposition of being that gritty, leading a team, but also being elegant and being vulnerable and being soft and being motherly—and those two can coexist at the same time,” she said.

She added that earlier in her career, she often felt pressured to choose between contrasting identities.

Inspired by personal experiences

Sharapova noted that her perspective has evolved, especially after becoming a mother and interacting with others navigating similar life experiences.

“I felt they could really relate to the concept and the subject and it felt like a very natural evolution,” she said.

Pushing for more female voices in podcasting

Highlighting the gender gap in podcasting, Sharapova said the space is still largely dominated by men but holds significant potential for women creators.

“I think a lot of men have great content. I listen to it a lot. But equally, there is so much room for growth for females to host podcasts,” she said.

She cited Kara Swisher and Mel Robbins as inspirations behind her move into podcasting, adding, “I feel like there’s room in the sandbox.”