'Don't compare me with Anna'

2004-05-28 15:04

Paris - Russian golden girl Maria Sharapova celebrated her place in the fourth round of the French Open on Friday by insisting she is not a revamped version of fellow beauty Anna Kournikova.

The 17-year-old Sharapova, who defeated compatriot and 10th seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3 7-6 (7/3) to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros for the first time, shrugged off growing comparisons with her better-known blonde, leggy countrywoman.

"It's pretty normal to be compared with Anna but I am myself," said the 18th seed.

"All the Russian players want to be themselves and so do I. We are all different."

Kournikova missed most of the 2003 season through injury and hasn't played this year but she did reach the fourth round here in 1998 and 1999.

Sharapova has at least, unlike Kournikova, claimed two tour titles but having equalled her best Grand Slam performance here, the comparisons will become more pronounced especially with her section of the draw wide open following the defeat of top seed and defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne.

"I have just beaten a top ten player, so I am very confident especially after today.

"This is a big breakthrough for me. I lost to her in Memphis this year and she is a great player.

"But I know I will have to try harder and play better in my next match."

Sharapova, who made the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and won tour titles in Tokyo and Quebec, faces Germany's Marlene Weingartner for a place in the quarter-finals.

Weingartner, the world 94, made the fourth round by beating last year's semi-finalist, eighth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3 6-2.

"I played solid tennis today. It's not easy to face a player from your own country but I was full of joy at the end."

Sharapova raced into a 4-0 lead in the first set dominating her opponent's serve breaking her to love on both occasions with her penetrating groundstrokes and ferocious running forehands proving crucial.

Zvonareva, who knocked out Venus Williams in the fourth round here last year, battled back to 2-5 and saved three set points in the eighth game before Sharapova took the set after 38 minutes when Zvonareva netted a simple return.

Incredibly, there were eight breaks of serve in the second set, the last of which came when Sharapova made a hash of serving for the match.

But she held her nerve in the tie-break building up a confident 5-1 lead and made sure of the match after 1hr 34min when Zvonareva hit a forehand long.

- AFP