 | Born: 19/4/87 Nationality: Russian Seeded: 13 World ranking: 15 Wimbledon best:
4th round (2003) Recent record:
2003: 4th round
2002: N/A
2001: N/A |
The meteoric rise of the Russian that began last year has continued more steadily in the early part of 2004. The 17-year-old goes to Wimbledon ranked higher than ever before and with a game that even the very best in the world will have to respect.
With glamorous looks that have won her a modelling contract and the attention of the wider press, Sharapova could be the next 'burn-out' waiting to happen.
But she looks massively determined when it comes to her tennis.
Her tennis itself is impressive - a powerful serve backed up by thumping groundstrokes and terrific speed around the court - but so far lacks the variety of the world's best.
After winning two titles at the end of 2003 she had only once made it past the last 16 this year, albeit losing mainly to top-10 players, before causing a stir at the French Open.
There she reached the quarter-finals, one better than her fourth-round effort at Wimbledon last year.
MMIX
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