Maria Sharapova's enduring charisma |
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Ten years ago, Maria Sharapova routed Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final, climbed into the players box to tearfully embrace her father Yuri and was immediately propelled into a life of staggering riches. Just 17 at the time, Sharapova was the third youngest women's champion after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis.If she was a virtual unknown in 2004, the statuesque Russian blonde is now the world's most widely-recognised and richest sportswoman, coining in comfortably around $30 million last year from earnings, off court and on. "You know, at that stage you're 17 years old and of course you think it was a great tournament. Can I do that again? Can I win more majors? You always have those question marks," admitted Sharapova, after winning a second French Open and fifth major in Paris this month.
