The New Wizkid!

Controlled Aggression.Yes,that's how i will define her.This year Wimbledon witnessed the making of a champion who is going to be there for many more years,and will hopefully rewrite the record books.The kid i am talking about here is none other than the Wimbledon 2004 women's champion Maria Sharapova.

It is just unbelievable for a girl of just 17 years old to show such 'Never-say-die' attitude and tremendous killer instinct.In the finals of the championship,Serena Williams was simply outplayed by the sheer character and determination of Sharapova.Anybody would misjudge and just take this girl for granted seeing her silky blonde hair and the innocent,photogenic beauty.But beware people,there is a lioness inside that beauty.

Sharapova drew everybody's attention when she beat much experienced Ai sugiyama in the quarterfinals.Ai sugiyama is a player who plays by the book,which is a typical Japanese character.It helped her to win the first set comfortably.But in the crunch moments,one needs the fighter instinct and thoughts beyond the book.Thats what Sharapova did when she fought like a tigress to win the second set and went on to crush Ai in the third and decisive set.

For those who thought that it was just a flash in the pan to win on a lucky day,Sharapova proved them all wrong in the semifinals against the former champion and aging Lindsey Davenport.In this match too,Sharapova gifted the first set to Lindsey easily.She seemed to be losing focus even in the second set.Thanks to the rain interruption,Sharapova got some breathing time and when she came back to continue the game,she was totally a different player with a overhauled attitude.She fired from all her barrels to achieve a seemingly impossible victory.

The final was the perfect finish for the well carried performance throughout.After seeing the murderous defeat of Jenifer Capriati in the hands of Serena,everybody would have thought the final was going to be a finishing formality for Serena to get her third consecutive Wimbledon crown.But within the first half an hour of the match,Sharapova fired so early winning the first set so easily, and showed Serena that will power is greater than physical power.Serena could do nothing other than looking at awe and appreciating the opponent at times.Sharapova's powerful shots and big volleying was simply too good for Serena to handle.It was surprising to see such a strokeplay from that slender teenage girl.The second set was a classy exhibition of her brilliance and her presence of mind when she played some timely lofts.Serena was outplayed in every area in the second set.The win was so well deserved and hence her ecstatic moments were so beautiful.Her running into the spectators to give her dad a sweet hug,trying to reach her mom over the cellular phone in the middle of the court and her control even with the mike,everything were so typical of a teenage girl.Nobody,including Sharapova herself,would have expected that she would win against a player who was strong enough to play in Men's section.

The sports magazines have got their new Cover girl.Only difference is,this girl is not going to be just a cover girl.She can cross many milestones if she controls her unforced errors and improves her serves considerably.

One thing is for sure,whenever she plays,whatever may be the outcome of the match,i will stay fixed in front of the TV enjoying the grace of the glorious beauty.Boy,she is like an angel!