HÄSTENS AND MARIA SHARAPOVA LAUNCH NEW TALENT PROGRAM: SLEEP TO PERFORM

Hästens and legendary tennis player Maria Sharapova launch their new talent program, ‘Sleep to Perform,’ aimed at supporting the new generation of leaders. With over 170 years worth of experience with night time comfortability, Hästens has a long history of enhancing people’s sleep experiences. Now, as they collaborate with celebrated athlete Sharapova, they continue their mission to provide people with a more peaceful sleep. Throughout her prolific tennis career, Sharapova understood how important it was to calibrate all aspects of performance in order to win on the court and, in partnership with Hästens, wants to ensure that emerging leaders benefit from the best possible sleep in their own pursuits of excellence

photography JORDAN MAGTOTO

Hästens and Sharapova will join forces to inspire and support a handpicked group of talents within a range of fields by providing them with the opportunity and support to feel and perform their best each day to grow their future potential. The program is founded and built on the notion that quality sleep helps people create the life they dream of upon waking, by providing benefits to both the body as well as the soul. Sharapova has insightfully reflected on these important synergies herself as a dedicated Hästens customer for many years. 

Read the full Q&A with Sharapova below.

photography JORDAN MAGTOTO

What aspects of Hästens’ brand and philosophy resonated with your personal beliefs about wellness and peak performance, prompting you to collaborate with them?

Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I worked with countless experts and learned many techniques that helped me prepare myself physically, mentally, and emotionally to succeed. I knew that every step I took to prioritize my holistic well-being could make a huge difference in my performance, and sleep was one of the most important components of preparation. Though I’m no longer competing on the tennis court, getting high-quality sleep remains paramount in enabling me to bring my best self to everything I do — in business, as a mother, and beyond — and I know that’s true for most people, too. I’m not sure any brand understands that better than Hästens, which has spent nearly two centuries perfecting the art of a good night’s sleep so that you can get the most out of your waking hours.

After 20 years of sleeping on a Hästens bed, how has your understanding of sleep quality evolved, and what specific changes have you noticed in your physical and mental performance?

I’m just so much sharper both physically and mentally after I’ve gotten consistent, high-quality sleep, and I really didn’t recognize that distinction until I invested in a Hästens bed of my own early in my tennis career. When I was playing, I could feel a difference in physical recovery after long matches or hard workouts when sleeping in my own bed versus sleeping elsewhere. It’s crucial mentally, too. I wake up feeling truly rested and without morning grogginess, which is hugely important as someone with a toddler at home.

In ‘Unstoppable,’ you emphasize resilience. How integral has quality sleep been in sustaining your mental toughness and resilience, not just on the court, but in your post- tennis ventures?

It’s been hugely important. When you’re feeling your best — sharp and energized — it’s much easier to convince yourself to push through a challenge than it is when you’re feeling depleted. That’s true whether it’s a physical challenge on the tennis court or a mental one in the boardroom. Either way, you need energy to persevere, so quality sleep is one of the most important components of maintaining mental strength and resilience.

Discipline has been a cornerstone of your success. Can you describe how your approach to sleep has evolved and become a disciplined part of your wellness routine?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I have a toddler at home. Any parent knows that sleep can be hard to come by in the early years of parenthood, so my approach to sleep has necessarily evolved as a result. I’ve become even more concerned about taking advantage of opportunities to sleep when I have them, so I try to be as consistent as possible with my sleep routine and prioritize my sleep hygiene. Obviously sleeping on a Hästens bed is a major component of that effort, but so is regularly getting to sleep at a reasonable hour, limiting screen time before bed, and taking other steps to ensure that each night’s sleep is restorative.

In the highly competitive world of professional tennis, did you ever have moments where sleep was compromised due to the demands of training, travel, and competition? How did you manage to mitigate the negative effects?

Of course. You’re constantly traveling on tour — staying in unfamiliar places across a variety of time zones. It’s very easy to lose sleep just based on that irregularity, but adding in the nerves of competing in big matches brings the likelihood of restful sleep down even further. No matter where I was or what the circumstances around me were, I tried my hardest to stick to my normal routine as much as possible. But sometimes, despite those efforts, I still wound up not getting optimal sleep. In those cases, I relied on mental toughness and resilience to push through.

Can you recount a time when sleep—or lack of it—had a pivotal effect on your performance or decision-making, either in sports or in your current business endeavours?

It was recently on an overseas trip where jet lag got the best of me and I found myself falling asleep post midnight. It didn’t help that I had a late dinner with colleagues and had to read through a presentation before going to sleep. The following day, I participated in a lengthy board meeting review during which I was present, but certainly wasn’t as sharp mentally. I also skipped a morning walk which helps me calibrate better to a new destination when I’m traveling.

How has quality sleep influenced your effectiveness in areas beyond sports, particularly in your roles as an entrepreneur, investor, and parent?

I think high-quality sleep is as important to mental performance as it is to physical performance, so it’s absolutely impacted my effectiveness in life beyond sports. When you have more energy to devote to the task at hand — whether it’s addressing a board room, reviewing a pitch, or playing with your child — you’re likely able to show up more engaged and be more effective overall. Sleeping well consistently just helps all of us show up as our best selves not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and interpersonally, in my opinion.

As a global traveller, how have you adapted your sleep routine to different time zones and environments? Are there any specific strategies you’ve developed to ensure quality sleep while on the road?

I always try to mitigate jet lag to the best of my ability by eating light while flying, minimizing carbs, and staying hydrated throughout the journey. And as I mentioned before, I also make a point to keep my sleep routine as consistent as possible despite the change in scenery. I find that those things help me, personally, but it’s certainly not foolproof.

What actionable advice would you offer to those juggling busy schedules, be they athletes or entrepreneurs, on how to prioritize sleep and improve their overall performance?

I think you touched on it right there in the question — make sure it’s a top priority. Invest in quality sleep, whether that’s by getting yourself a Hästens bed like I did or being extra considerate of providing yourself with the conditions that offer you the best night’s sleep. Maintain consistency with your sleep schedule as much as possible and try to hold yourself accountable about turning off your phone, laptop, or TV when it’s time to go to bed.