Mom Maria rules off-court too! Sharapova gives tips on parenting

Maria Sharapova. Pic/Sharapova’s Instagram

Former Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova has revealed the five non-negotiables in her daily routine as a mother to her four-year-old son Theodore.

Her first rule is having her morning coffee in solitude. "I set my alarm 30 minutes before my son wakes up, and that 30 minutes is precious. It's so quiet, and I love it," Sharapova, 39, said during an interview with Olympic sprinter Allyson Felix at an event on the sidelines of the US Open.

After coffee, it's strength training, for the five-time Grand Slam champ. "Strength training is something I did during my career, but I actually focused more on cardio. But now I love strength training. I feel really tough," she said.

A strict bedtime policy is important too. "I'm slightly strict on bedtime routines because if we're 20 minutes off, it's not going to be a good day the next day," said Sharapova. The next is about the essentials in her bag. "Sanitising wipes. No-brainer," she said. And finally, quality ingredients are a must. "We have to be mindful about what we're putting on our body and what we're using on our skin. It applies to parents and kids," she concluded.