Siberian Dance

I spend most of my time during the holiday at home watching Australian Open, the Grand Slam of the Pacific as they called it. Unbeatable and the best sportswoman during the tournament I would say it is Maria Sharapova. Honestly, I salute all sportswomen but my degree of salutation narrows down to the path of tennis as it is the game besides football that I enjoy watching it, how the players apply the law of gravity to hit, aim, and place the ball on the most unreachable spot beyond the reach of their opponents. The average period of 2 hours per match amazed me how high is the players' fitness and how serious they are in preparing their fitness to display the best swings and dances in the court prior to the game. Semifinals are just around the corner, and I bid the best to Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, and Martina Hingis. To my knowledge, most players who managed to proceed to quarter-finals were the unseeded ones like Nicolas Kiefer and Marcos Baghdatis, and congratulations I say. To Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, and Anastasia Myskina, thank you for the show.

I researched a few facts regarding Maria. Below are the facts that I managed to find:

1. Date of Birth: April 19, 1987
2. Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia (Siberian Region)
3. Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA
4. Nationality: Russian
5. Height: 6'2
6. Weight: 130 lbs. (59 kg)
7. Plays: Right-handed
8. Clothing: Nike
9. Racquet: Prince
10. Endorsements: Speedminton, Motorola, Parlux Fragrances, Canon, TAG Heuer, Honda Japan & Colgate-Palmolive

11. Personal Life: + Coached by her father Yuri Sharapov and Robert Lansdorp + Mother's name is Yelena + Started hitting tennis balls at age four; at six, participated in exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova + Began training at Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA, at age nine (which required a two-year separation from mother due to visa restrictions and finances) + Off-court interests include fashion, singing, dancing and movies (favorites are Mona Lisa Smile, Something's Gotta Give and Love Actually) + Second year of high school and studies via an Internet school + Enjoys reading books in the Sherlock Holmes and Pippi Longstocking series + Prefers Russian and Thai cuisine + Favorite dessert is French crepes with Nutella + Favorite drinks are orangina and virgin strawberry daiquiris + Signed with IMG Models in November 2003

12. Career Titles: + SINGLES 2003: Tokyo & Quebec City 2004: Birmingham, Wimbledon, Seoul, Tokyo & WTA Championships 2005: Tokyo, Doha & Birmingham + DOUBLES 2003: Tokyo, Luxembourg 2004: Birmingham + HIGHEST RANKINGS: Singles: 1 (22/8/2005)Doubles: 41 (14/6/2004) + BEST GRAND SLAM PERFORMANCES Australian Open: Semis Roland Garros: Quarters Wimbledon: Champion US Open: Semis

Keep on dancing Maria =)

"Your energy is as boundless as your ambition, total commitment may be a way of life you should seriously consider" - Dr. Joyce Brothers