Maria Sharapova

Her slender frame and model's looks belie a clubbing forehand and forceful serve.

Age: 17

Lives: Bradenton, Florida

Plays: Right-handed

Grand Slam titles: none

Wimbledon record: 2003-fourth round

Her slender frame and model's looks belie a clubbing forehand and forceful serve that propelled her to a first grand slam quarter-final at the French Open.

Florida-based and a fluent English speaker, the 1.83m-tall Siberian bears tedious media comparisons with compatriot Anna Kournikova with the same grace she brings to the court.

Unlike Kournikova, though, Sharapova has already won three WTA Tour titles, the latest last week on grass in Birmingham. She reached the last 16 on her Wimbledon debut last year and could emulate Kournikova's surprise 1997 run to the semi-finals.