Yesterday an organizer of the Watsons Water Champions Challenge announced that Maria Sharapova will participate in the 6th edition of the tournament which will be held between the 5th and the 8th of january.



In his speech, Mr. Colvin Brown said “With immense pride, I am delighted to reveal that we have secured three Grand Slam champions and the World's No. 1 player to compete in our event.”


The President went on to explain that the Mixed Men's & Ladies...

"Ave, Maria!" shouted Izvestia. Evening newspaper Vechernyaya Moskya headlined with a nationalist twist: "Good Masha, You're Still Ours. Russia heralded Maria Sharapova victory at the WTA Championships this week as souvenir supplements highlighted the countries success on the major stage in 2004.



"Maria Sharapova won the final victorious point of the best season ever for Russian tennis," the business daily Kommersant commented.
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World number four Maria Sharapova has pledged $56,000, the money from the sale of the Porsche Cayenne sports car the 17-year-old was awarded after her victory in Los Angeles to the families of the victims of the Beslan school hostage tragedy in which 344 people died in September.



It was the first time that the winner of season-ending WTA Championships was awarded a Porsche to donate to the charity of her choice.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova's success this season has not only shot her to world No 4 from No 32 at the end of 2003, but onto another planet, French tennis rival Marion Bartoli claimed on Thursday.


Sharapova's triumph in the WTA Tour Championship capped a milestone year for the 17-year-old, and world No 41 Bartoli believes that success has created a barrier with the Russian beauty which did not exist a year ago.


"She doesn't really speak to anyone. When you pass in front of...

Maria will join World No 2 Amélie Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva(5) and May Pierce(29) in the 2005 edition of the Gaz Open tournament in France.


It will be Maria’s first participation in this tournament.


The 13th edition of the greatest French female tournament will be held 7 – 13 February.

Kim Clijsters of Belgium is last years winner, she defeated Mary Pierce last February.