This Final Is Camera Ready

Maria Sharapova had just finished a BBC television interview and thought the camera was switched off. It wasn’t. But in a moment, Sharapova’s face had changed from animated and smiling to bored and expressionless.

Sharapova knows how it works. Smile for the camera.

Only 17, the Siberia-born Sharapova is the latest women’s tennis teen of the new century. Her talent was noticed when she was 6. Soon there were agents at her door, offering scholarships to U.S. academies and lessons in grooming and modeling.

And now Sharapova has arrived on tennis’ largest stage, the Wimbledon final. Today, she will play two-time defending champion Serena Williams. Most likely the crowd will shout for Sharapova. Most likely Sharapova will expect it.

Lindsay Davenport has noticed how this teenager and others are so poised and full of confidence. “They’re amazing,” Davenport said. “They really have a belief in themselves when they’re so young.”

Sharapova knows she is a good tennis player and expects to win Wimbledon. Maybe not this year but certainly next. Or the year after that.

While Williams, 22, is aiming for her third consecutive Wimbledon title and senses expectations are so high that she will be considered a failure if she doesn’t win, Sharapova has galloped into the limelight with her forehand blazing and her path carefully plotted by coaches, agents and her father, Yuri.

“When I first came out I was shy and I didn’t think I belonged,” said Davenport, who lost to Sharapova in the semifinals. “I didn’t have the confidence these girls have. I don’t know what that means.”

What it means is that a young woman whose family once moved to a seaside city to escape Chernobyl fallout can find success by traveling to Florida and California for tennis instruction.

What it means is that, in a semifinal Thursday at Wimbledon, Sharapova was treated to the same cheers rock stars receive because she has forever legs and a devastating forehand, because she speaks impeccable English and wears sexily elegant clothing.

What it means is that players such as Sharapova and 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin don’t dismiss former tennis bombshell Anna Kournikova because Kournikova didn’t win a tournament. They admire Kournikova. They just want to be better.

“I think it’s very important to feel good about the way you look,” Sharapova said Friday.

“When you go on court and you feel like something is messed up and something’s not right with the way you look or don’t feel confident with something, I think that can definitely hurt you a little bit and make you even more uncomfortable out there.”

Sharapova’s opponent understands.

Serena Williams and her sister Venus have taken pleasure in unveiling new outfits and jewelry and hair colors at each Grand Slam event. Serena was disappointed that censors at the All England Club vetoed her first choice of outfit, rumored to be some sort of body suit.

But the Williams sisters have been about more than appearance.

They’ve combined to win 10 Grand Slam titles between them and neither has turned 25. Yet it seemed Friday that Serena sees Sharapova’s lack of experience and reserve of confidence as something to be nostalgic about.

“When you’re younger you have nothing to lose,” she said. “It’s like you can go for broke. Then you get a little older and it’s like, ‘OK, I’m getting older. Have I won a Grand Slam yet?’ type situation.”

Besides the strokes and the clothes and hair and jewelry, Sharapova has mastered the handling of the occasion. She knows how to slowly twirl around Centre Court after a victory and blow kisses to the fans. But first she puts her hand over her mouth to cover her shriek. Sharapova has proved to have something that can’t be taught by coaches or groomed by handlers -- a fighting spirit.

She has lost the first set of her last two matches against higher-ranked veteran players. She has already become known as a young woman who takes her time and calms her emotions between points even if her opponent is standing at the service line with arm in the air.

“I noticed that about her,” Williams said. “She doesn’t play very fast. It’s kind of difficult to play someone that’s not playing as fast.”

Williams and Sharapova have played only once, last spring in Miami. It was Williams’ first tournament back after her eight-month break to recover from knee surgery, but she won the match anyway, 6-4, 6-3. Sharapova said she learned from that and from watching Williams during this tournament that “Serena is a tough girl and she’s a fighter.

“We share those similarities,” added Sharapova, “so I’m looking forward to a very tough match.”

Williams won her first major title as a 17-year-old at the 1999 U.S. Open.

“Nerves? Not really,” Williams said when asked to recall her attitude before that final. “I knew I was going to win. I just told myself months before that I was going to win because I really wanted to more than anything.”

Sharapova knows the feeling.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Today’s final

No. 1 Serena Williams

vs. No. 13 Maria Sharapova

* Williams at a glance: Right-hander, 22, born in Saginaw, Mich., and lives in Florida. Trying to be the third woman in 35 years to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles. Hit a 126-mph serve in fourth round, the fastest women’s serve ever at Wimbledon and second-fastest all time behind Venus Williams’ 127-mph serve at Zurich in 1998. Has dropped one set, to Amelie Mauresmo in a semifinal, in reaching the final.

* Sharapova at a glance: Right-hander, 17, born in Siberia, Russia, and lives in Bradenton, Fla. Playing Wimbledon for the second time. She reached the fourth round in 2003, losing to fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. Attempting to become third youngest champion after Lottie Dod in 1887 and Martina Hingis in 1997. Has dropped two sets in reaching the final. Beat fifth-seeded Lindsay Davenport in semifinals.