Maria Sharapova became the first Russian woman to reach number one in tennis on Monday when she officially replaced injured American Lindsay Davenport at the top of the world rankings.
Despite relinquishing her Wimbledon title earlier this year, the 18-year-old Siberian has still won three tournaments so far this season and amassed enough points to topple Davenport and fulfil her life-long dream.
However, while Sharapova's good looks and determination have earned the Florida-based Russian million-dollar endorsements and made her a global phenomenon, she remains something of an enigma back home.
Most Russians still perceive her as made-in-America rather than a home-grown heroine.
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| Most Russians still perceive her as made-in-America |
Sharapova's foreign upbringing and reluctance to represent Russia in competition or even visit her native land have also contributed to her isolation.
At the age of nine, she left her mother in Russia and went to the United States with her father Yuri to pursue her dream.
She has repeatedly turned down offers to play for Russia in the Fed Cup, saying her main goal this year was to become world number one rather than help her country win the most prestigious team competition.
Fellow top Russian players, such as Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Myskina, have not embraced Sharapova as one of their own, giving her the cold shoulder.
Last year, Sharapova was involved in a well-publicised feud with Myskina when the former French Open champion accused the new No 1's father of being disrespectful to her during the season-ending WTA Tour Championships.
| She has repeatedly turned down offers to play for Russia in the Fed Cup |
At last year's Fed Cup finals in Moscow, Myskina said that she would stop playing for Russia if Sharapova was invited to join the team next year.
"Her father's behaviour is totally incorrect, simply rude. I don't want to be around people like him," said the fiery Muscovite.
US Open champion Kuznetsova and the rest of Russia's Fed Cup team have supported Myskina.
Kuznetsova also added spice to the long-running saga of "us against them" by publicly acknowledging her dislike of Sharapova.
When asked who was the most popular Russian player worldwide, she said with a wry grin: "Sharapova of course - but I don't know if you would call her Russian though. She is more American then Russian. She speaks Russian with a coarse accent." - Reuters
- This article was originally published on page 16 of Cape Argus on August 22, 2005
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