Claim: Maria Sharapova retired from tennis by 2000.
Evidence: Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22 , 2005 , at the age of 18 , and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11 , 2012 , to July 8 , 2012.
The list of WTA number 1 ranked players shows the professional women 's tennis players who have been or currently are ranked world No. 1 by the Women 's Tennis Association , along with the dates of first reaching and losing that spot.