( CNN ) -- Maria Sharapova 's parents fled their home to escape the fallout from the Chernobyl explosion before she was born . Fast-forward 25 years , and Japan 's battle to prevent a possible nuclear meltdown following last week 's earthquake and subsequent tsunami has brought into focus the Russian tennis star 's work to raise awareness about that earlier disaster . The 23-year-old was born in Siberia a year after the Chernobyl catastrophe , considered the worst nuclear accident in history , as her parents left Belarus to avoid any possible exposure to the spreading radiation . In 2007 , the year after she won her second grand slam title at the U.S. Open , Sharapova became a United Nations Development Program goodwill ambassador , making a personal $ 100,000 donation to its causes in affected areas . 'Heroes ' battle to keep nuclear plant under control . This January , she contributed another $ 250,000 to expand initiatives helping children in the region have access to sporting activities . The problems Japan now faces have raised the specter of another such far-reaching disaster . `` In terms of what 's going on over there , it 's crazy and something that you ca n't even prepare for , '' Sharapova -- wearing a T-shirt marking the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion -- told reporters in Indian Wells in the United States , where she is competing . `` It happens , and you see the coverage on it and the videos , and it 's really incredible that something like that can even happen in the world . It opens your eyes , and obviously puts a lot of perspective in your life . `` It 's a country where I have very great memories from . I started playing there when I was very young , and I always loved my experiences there . So to see it going on there , to its culture and the people , it 's really sad . '' Sharapova , who moved to the U.S. at the age of nine and is now based in Florida , said she wants to highlight the widespread , long-lasting effects that a nuclear accident can create . `` In the beginning my job was raising awareness to the world , basically getting the message across that even though something like that happened such a long time ago , it still causes many people ( problems ) on a daily basis , '' she said . `` Kids that were born and now are having kids , you also find that they have something in their body that 's not allowing them to live a normal life from the pollution . `` I have never actually been around the area ... I wanted to get all the coverage and all the videos around it , because it 's really unbelievable what you see . This big huge area -- it 's completely deserted . No-one is around it . `` Everyone has completely fled . They took their passports and that 's all . That was their only belonging that they really wanted . ''
Tennis star Maria Sharapova reflects on potential nuclear meltdown in Japan . Russian works with U.N. charity trying to help survivors of Chernobyl explosion . Her parents fled Belarus before she was born to escape spreading radiation . Sharapova says she is saddened by effects of earthquake and tsunami in Japan .