All of the sudden, many journalists and quite a few players seem to have decided that Maria Sharapova is ready to be the dominant player in women's tennis. We'll see.

From The Telegraph: Sharapova the No. 1 attraction

Dress and enormous high heels on, Maria Sharapova sauntered through the lobby of a Madrid hotel yesterday and the sight of her was enough for all the other guests just to turn and stare. At 6ft 2in barefoot, the Siberian was probably another half a foot taller wearing those heels – and you did fear for some of the hotel's low-hanging chandeliers.

Sharapova is big in Spain, as she is everywhere across the tennis planet. But, as she later suggested, she would much prefer it if "people" spoke a little less about her looks, and all the glitz and glamour that go with being the world's highest-earning sportswoman, and instead spoke a little more about her tennis and her multiple achievements on the court. There is much more to the 19-year-old than being well-heeled and lobby-stopping pretty...

Sharapova disclosed that she had decided to no longer set herself any goals. "I just go with the flow of things. Sometimes you set yourself goals and, hey, you get injured, and what are you going to do then? Are you going to cry all day because you set yourself a goal and you didn't make it? No, I've got real confidence after winning the US Open this year. I'm 19 years old, I've already won two grand slam titles, I'm just going to go out there and enjoy myself. I know that I can carry on improving as a player."

Comments

"Maria Sharapova is ready to be the dominant player in women's tennis"

Hmm, I like Maria and she's playing well right now, but I think it's too early to say she's the dominant player right now. Justine got into four slam finals, won more tournament than Sharapova, and is on course to meet her in the Semi or Final in Madrid. I think we have to wait and see how things goes this week, and even next year. See if she can continue beating players who have giving her trouble; especially Justine who Maria is 1-2 this year.

The way Sharapova is playing right now, it's like the best of Venus and Serena rolled into one. She has lately been beating the players she was losing to. Her biggest challenge here will be Henin-Hardenne, and vice versa. Pretty exciting stuff... with the added drama of the No. 1 spot up for grabs by these two.

Stunning to see Clijsters thrash Kuznetsova tho... and wished Hingis found the game in her to beat Mauresmo :-( Could have... could have...

6-foot-2 barefoot? Good god. I'm 5-foot-10 and I'm just imaganing what it would be like lol

OK now that I can focus. It's almost like all the media wants her to be the dominant force in women's tennis. Who needs boring personalities like JHH, Clijsters or Amelie when you got Sharpie and the Williams sisters.

I respect Sharapova as a tennis player but i do not like her for some reason. Her game though has been picking up and its fair to say she really is performing like a No. 1 and although i like Amelie much more i think Sharapova deserves the No.1 ranking. Her game certainly relies on power, watching her now and looking back to wimbledon 04 V. Serena she did not have near enough any power back then compared to now. Shes beefed up and its improved her game. Her grunt also gets considerably louder every year i think.