The academy now has 190 places compared to around 30 in 1994 but, since Sharapova became the first Russian woman to top the WTA world rankings last month, they've had to turn eager teenagers away. "I would like to become as good as her and earn as much money as her," said 15-year-old Yuliya Livotova.

Sharapova, the blonde star with the top model looks, won Wimbledon last year aged just 17. Since then her advertising contracts have netted more than $US18 million ($23.65 million), and by many accounts she has become the biggest earner in women's sport. Sharapova was born in Siberia but has been living in Florida since she was eight, is not the first Russian to popularise the sport. 

　　莎拉波娃这位出生在西伯利亚的大美人8岁就移居美国，她在17岁的时候拿下了温布尔顿网球公开赛的冠军。骄人的战绩，加上她模特一般的身材和较好的容颜，马上为她带来众多天价的合约。目前这位18岁的网球明星的年收入超过1800万美元，是当今网坛身价最高的体育明星。为此，莎拉波娃带动了俄罗斯网球的热潮，这位当今网坛的第一美女在成千上万的俄罗斯少女中心点燃了网球的明星梦。