Maria Sharapova, the global tennis icon who spent her career defeating the sport’s best, is looking for some losers. On the premiere episode of The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, she tells us exactly what she means.

For many, Sharapova is a figure frozen in time. It was 2004 when she stunned Serena Williams on Centre Court to win her first Wimbledon and first Grand Slam. Sharapova would go on to become (like Williams) one of the most recognized tennis players of her generation. These days, however, she’s turned her laser focus to dealmaking. 

Even as she was climbing to the top of the tennis world, the Russian-born star was already building a business resume—these days she’s reportedly worth in excess of $200 million. 

Now with her tennis career behind her, all of those off-court projects have become a full-time job. With an attitude forged in the highest-pressure sporting arenas, she approaches a range of partnerships with a sly worldliness. One thing she’s keen to find? People who have seen it all go sideways. Sharapova says that only those who have lost can eventually win.

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