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Sharapova all set to dazzle

Maria Sharapova will look to defend her Wimbledon title on Tuesday against her biggest rivals; Serena, Venus and Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Published on: Jun 21, 2005, 13:26:00 IST
PTI | By , London
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Maria Sharapova starts the defence of her Wimbledon title on Tuesday together with three of her biggest rivals, the Williams sisters Serena and Venus and Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne.

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HT Image

Second seed Sharapova faces Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives in the day's first game on Centre Court and is determined to enjoy the experience.

"It's going to be a lot harder to defend than winning," the glamorous 18-year-old Russian admitted.

"Obviously there are going to be more expectations...but I'm going to go out and enjoy myself, not worry about anything else that's going on, just have fun and just take it all in."

Serena, champion in 2002 and 2003 and last year's losing finalist, and Venus, the 2000 and 2001 champion, both play their first round matches on court two.

Fourth seed Serena faces U.S compatriot Angela Haynes while older sister Venus, plays Czech Eva Birnerova.

French Open champion Henin-Hardenne, the seventh seed, takes on Greece's Eleni Daniilidou on Court One.

In the men's first round U.S. second seed Andy Roddick unleashes his rocket serve on another Czech, Jiri Vanek, in the first match on Court One.

French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, seeded four, plays Vince Spadea of the U.S. in a Centre Court.

The match will provide a useful indicator of whether the teenager can translate his incredible form on clay to the faster grass.

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