Maria Sharapova 's life-changing move from Siberia to Florida as a seven-year-old propelled her on a path to fame and fortune but she says she would never turn her back on her mother country . It is sometimes easy to forget that five-times grand slam champion Sharapova , the world 's highest-paid female athlete , is actually Russian until you witness her conduct a post-match press conference in her native tongue . With £21.4million in prize money alone , a string of lucrative endorsements , her own sweet business and even a famous boyfriend she is the living embodiment of the American dream . Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova poses with Tania Bryer during their interview on CNBC . Sharapova opens up about her past in the episode of CNBC Meets with host Tania Bryer . Yet , Sharapova baulks at the idea that she would want to trade her Russian passport for an American one , as former Czech Martina Navratilova did early in her glittering career . ' I would have if I wanted to ( change citizenships ) but it 's never been actually a question in my family or in my team whether I wanted to change citizenships , ' the Russian told CNBC in an interview to be screened on Wednesday . Sharapova , who won the Wimbledon title aged 17 , still gives her all for Russia in the Fed Cup and was a torch bearer at the Sochi Winter Olympics a year ago . She said her Russian heritage moulded her instincts . Sharapova carries the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony in Sochi . Sharapova won the Wimbledon title when she was just 17 back in 2004 . 'It is about the family environment , it is about the rich culture , ' the 27-year-old said . 'Just life experiences that I look back to and I know that for so many years I was shaped into the individual I was from those experiences . 'And not necessarily simply the country , but the people , the mentality and the toughness and that never giving up attitude . ' World No 2 Sharapova will not have to venture too far from her adopted home at the Miami Open which starts this week . Should the tournament go according to rankings she will play nemesis Serena Williams in the final . Sharapova lost to long time rival Serena Williams at the Australian Open final . Sharapova competes at Indian Wells last week . She beat the American in the 2004 Wimbledon final and again a few months later but lost the next 16 , most recently in this year 's Australian Open final . But Sharapova said their rivalry still burned strong . 'She 's at the peak of her career . I am now number two in the world , ' she said . ' I feel like we 're still driven and hungry to be the best tennis players . ' I do n't think anyone in the tennis world believed that , in 10 years ' time , we would still be rivals . I think it 's an incredible story . '
Maria Sharapova moved from Siberia to Florida when she was four . Sharapova has won all seven Grand Slams in her career . Russian born Sharapova says she would never trade her citizenship .