The Anti-Anna Is the Winna

Rebecca Winters

July 12, 2004 12:00 AM EDT

Her terrible burden is finally lifted, along with a large round trophy. MARIA SHARAPOVA, a blond, Russian-born tennis prodigy with a modeling contract, has had to expend much valuable energy denying that she’s the new Anna Kournikova, an adjectivally similar countrywoman who won hearts but no titles. “Anna isn’t in the picture anymore,” Sharapova recently announced. “It’s Maria time now.” True and true. With Kournikova absent and fighting retirement, the less flamboyant, more focused Sharapova, 17, trounced Serena Williams, 6-1, 6-4, Saturday to become Wimbledon’s third youngest women’s champion ever and the first non-Williams winner in five years.

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