Just by a mere mention of her name "Maria Sharapova", invites comments that she is a Russian. Yes. But she is no ordinary Russian woman. To those who don not know or see her play her game on cable tv, she means nothing. However, to those who follow the sport she plays and follow the accounts in the dailies, invokes praises and adulations. That is because she is today the most popular, the hottest and perhaps, the prettiest multi-titled tennis champion ever. To her fans and the millions who follow the sport, she may just be the plain Maria Sharapova or Masha to her friends, but to me, she is someone very special. It is because she is my idol and darling or simply, my Darling Sharapova.

I used not to like Russians before owing to the existence of the Cold War between the Soviet Union of which Russia was the most dominant country and the Free World. But now that it is over and with the emergence of tennis "glamour girl" Sharapova and her climb to the top, I've changed all that and it's worth it. From the time my Darling Sharapova won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17 and her second, the 2006 US Open, as if there's no stopping me in adoring and following her games. Every time there's a live coverage or just even replays of her game, be it a grand slam or a minor tournament, I'm always glued to my tv set; cheering, yelling and celebrating her every win while consoling only myself of a loss.

As can be recalled, Sharapova is a Russian immigrant from Siberia to the United States while still in her early age. Though she and her family make their permanent home in Bradenton, Florida, she remains a Russian playing for her country's Federation Cup team and speaks fluent American accented English. Counting all her tennis titles, awards and prize money plus the tens of millions of US dollars earnings from her commercial endorsements would surely cause envy to other players her age and stature. Having turned 21 just last month and standing 6 ft. 2 in. and owing a figure that would shame a fashion model and a pretty face of a movie star, Sharapova arrives just at the right time for a tennis fan like me to idolize.

Three times before, she had been ranked world's no. 1 tennis player only to lose the ranking a few week later for inconsistencies in her plays and partly due to injuries. However, after a healthy start this year she won her third grand slam title, the 2008 Australian Open without losing a set and two other minor titles. Today, she is ranked no. I again, thanks to the retirement of Justine Henin who was the top-ranked for a long time from active play. This means that come May 25, she will be seeded no. 1 in this year's French Open, the only major title she hasn't won and is looking to annexing it this time. Like many other fans, I also look forward to this and if ever she really makes it, it will be because she is pretty and beautiful to be the champion. Many may disagree, however, let me take them back decades ago.

While training and preparing to challenge champion Sonny Liston for his heavyweight title in 1964, Cassius Clay who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali kept taunting and ridiculing the champion to heat up the fight. To many, it was a "psych war" that Clay employed. Sort of, but not so. "He is too ugly to be the world champ! The world champ should be pretty like me!!", Clay kept yelling. Well, we all know what happened then and who Muhammad Ali is. So, aren't these enough reasons for my Darling Sharapova to keep on being champion? You be the judge.