Surround yourself with positive people “I have a great team on my side: my parents, my coach, my friends,” says Maria Sharapova.

“I see my dad (her former coach) constantly. He goes to every match. My mom prefers to stay at home, but I see her when I’m not playing tournaments.”

And her girlfriends catch up with Maria while she’s touring. “Success is wonderful — it can get you nice things like a new car — but ultimately, what’s important is being surrounded by the people you love,” says Maria.

Make protecting your skin a priority Dermatologists agree: The best way to avoid wrinkles and skin cancer when you’re older is to start taking care of your skin when you’re young — something Maria is a staunch advocate of.

“I may only be 20, but I play in the sun all day long, so I have to be religious about using sunscreen,” she says. (One of her favorite brands: Neutrogena.)

Set goals for yourself Ask Maria how she stays motivated and her eyes light up. “First,” she says, “I love what I do, which is my biggest motivator. Second, my parents taught me that I should always give my best.

I look forward to what I can achieve if I work hard enough.” But even a seasoned athlete with plenty of awards on her mantel has the ultimate goal in mind when competing: “I want to hold up the gold trophy at the end of the match!” admits the two-time Grand Slam winner.

Be a gracious loser… “A defeat is always disappointing because my goal is to win every match I play,” says Maria. “But that’s impossible.” She takes a philosophical approach to dealing with a loss.

“I try to see the bigger picture,” she explains. “My coach’s mother passed away recently, and another friend’s parent is sick. A tennis match is so small compared to these things. It keeps it in perspective.”

…and an even more gracious winner Win or lose, during post-match interviews, you’ll never find Maria criticizing other players or bragging about her skills. “I try to be mature about it,” she says. “I treat my opponents the same way I want to be treated. If I’ve just lost a match, I don’t want to hear how I could be better!”

Learn how to say no Between Grand Slam tournaments, social and professional obligations, and keeping her fans up to date on her busy schedule with posts to her Web site, life can be a whirlwind for Maria. How does she do it all?

She doesn’t. “Life has taught me to be independent. I like to be in control of my career, and I have to say no to things to achieve that,” she says. “I always try to find time to be by myself, to reflect on my achievements and where I’m headed.” [via]