Maria Sharapova the Australian Open Women's champion

Maria Sharapova holding the Australian Open championship trophy

Maria Yuryevna Sharápova (born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. As of November 19, 2007, she is the fifth-ranked female player in the world. At the end of 2006, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete.[2]

Sharapova has won three Grand Slam singles titles. In 2004, she beat Serena Williams to take the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Since then, she has won the 2006 U.S. Open (defeating Justine Henin in the final) and the 2008 Australian Open (defeating Ana Ivanović in the final). She was also the runner-up at the 2007 Australian Open.

At 6'2", Sharapova is one of the tallest women currently in the women's game. Only Lindsay Davenport has been a taller Grand Slam champion in the 21st Century.

Sharapova has in the past confirmed that her surname should be pronounced with the second syllable stressed, but English-speakers commonly and mistakenly stress the third syllable.