Sharapova faces final climb to number one

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 05/03/2005 4:13 PM

The Jakarta Post/Agencies, Jakarta

Maria Sharapova turned 18 last week. Although she probably came of age competitively while winning Wimbledon last year, she has a chance of creating a timely celebration during the next few days.

That's because Sharapova has not only followed fellow Russian Anna Kournikova as the world's most sought-after sportswoman, but has surpassed her Florida-based neighbor by moving as close to the top of the rankings as she is to the endorsement earnings.

Sharapova will become world number one if she wins the title at the German Open in Berlin this week, and the way she has been growing stronger and trying to add facets to her game nobody should rule it out.

An even greater haul of endorsements is likely to come her way if she takes the number one ranking from American Lindsay Davenport.

From the domination of Martina Navratilova in the 1980s, through Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez, Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters, nobody, except for Gabriela Sabatini, has offered the advertising potential of Sharapova.

This includes the participants in the recent musical chairs in the women's number one ranking, which has shifted between Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport.

Like Kournikova, who is essentially retired from the sport, Sharapova is blonde and beautiful.

The difference is that, unlike Kournikova, she has already taken a number of titles, including the big one of Wimbledon.

When the WTA Championships in Los Angeles focused its 2004 promotional campaign on images of Sharapova, Serena Williams understood why. ""She's sexy,"" she said.

Apart from her leggy good looks, Sharapova is also a marketing agent's dream for another important reason.

While the other Russian players grew up playing in clubs in Moscow and other major cities, Sharapova moved to Nick Bolletieri's tennis academy as a child and, as a result, is consummately fluent in English.

If she does become number one, she will be the most photogenic and marketable world number one since Chris Evert's heyday in the 1970s.

Wisely, Sharapova does not focus on taking the top spot, or the rewards that will come with the achievement.

""My aim is to keep improving, to get my schedule right and keep playing well -- and the ranking can take care of itself,"" she said.

However clay, on which the tour is played for the next five weeks, is Sharapova's least favorite surface, which may make it difficult in Berlin.

The two comeback Belgians are also likely to be dangerous.

Henin-Hardenne, who won in Warsaw on Sunday, has boldly said there will be more to come. Clijsters is also playing well.

Now it is up to Sharapova to prove that she can transfer her increasingly powerful game to red clay and win.

Otherwise she will be faced with consolation of having become just the second professional tennis player ever to be included in People magazine's ""50 Most Beautiful People"" list.

Kournikova was the first -- and everybody knows what happened to her.

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