Newport salutes Sharapova

Bryce Alderton

Maria Sharapova walked off center court at the Palisades Tennis Club

last July following the Newport Beach Breakers’ final match of the

season with a victory over the marquee player that night: Martina

Navratilova.

How things have changed in a year.

Sharapova, 17, returned to the club, the Breakers and World Team

Tennis Wednesday night for Newport’s match against Sacramento, only

this time as a Wimbledon singles champion.

A sellout crowd of 2,076 greeted the 6-foot Russian, who played

for the first time since defeating Serena Williams in straight sets

to claim the Wimbledon women’s singles crown in her first Grand Slam

final July 3.

“This is a big deal,” said Corona del Mar resident Dennis Renter,

who stood in line for an hour with more than 100 people Wednesday

afternoon to purchase one of 50 remaining tickets. He bought a $55

reserved-level seat as the Breakers defeated the Sacramento Capitals,

23-16.

“I didn’t know how many were available, but I saw two people walk

up and turn in tickets, so I became more confident I could get one,”

said Renter, attending his third WTT match this season.

“We have a full house, whereas in the other matches, 40 or 50% of

seats have been taken. It’s fun to see a celebrity you’re used to

seeing on [television] who is known nationwide and, now, worldwide.”

Sharapova, who vaulted to eighth in the world rankings from a No.

32 mark in January, has gained cover girl status for women’s tennis

since her Wimbledon victory, which she is still letting sink in.

Sharapova, winner of four singles titles -- two this year -- since

making her professional debut in 2001, sat next to WTT founder and

tennis icon Billie Jean King at a press conference at the Hyatt

Newporter prior to Wednesday night’s match.

King knows about winning at Wimbledon. She claimed a record 20

titles, six in singles, and is the only woman to win U.S. singles

titles on four surfaces [grass, clay, carpet and hard].

Before the conference began, King presented Sharapova with a white

T-shirt with her name stenciled on the back and a No. 1 below it,

signifying her first Wimbledon title.

“My first win [at Wimbledon] was in doubles, so you are so far

ahead of me,” King said to Sharapova, who immediately replied with a

gift of her own to King.

“I have something for you” Sharapova said, giggling. She handed

King a T-shirt with the No. 20, signifying her Wimbledon

championships.

King then said Sharapova would win more than 20 Wimbledon titles,

hailing her apparent talent.

“I’m enjoying it and starting to realize what I’ve done,” said

Sharapova, who became the third-youngest woman to claim a Wimbledon

singles crown.

She also became the fourth-youngest winner of a grand slam in the

Open era -- Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Tracy Austin are the

other three.

The Bradenton, Fla., resident, though, has noticed more flashes

pointed her direction in the last two weeks and elaborated during a

humorous moment during the conference.

“There are more people following me around, suspicious people,”

said Sharapova, giggling along with the controlled laughter in the

room. “There are a lot more lenses.

“I’ve just been relaxing and get getting ready for [Wednesday’s

match]. This is the one event that has a team atmosphere. Of course,

my boss [and father Robert Lansdorp] cheers for me, but this team

cheers on the court. I love the music playing, there are no lets or

ad-ins and the play is fast. The crowd gets into it and it’s a more

fun, competitive match.”

Wednesday, though, was the only time fans in Newport Beach could

see Sharapova, in her third season of WTT and second straight with

the Breakers.

She canceled her scheduled appearance for Saturday’s match against

the Kansas City Explorers due to fatigue, saying in a statement

released Sunday that she wanted to play “at the highest level” for

the rest of the season.

“Unfortunately, I am playing in just one match,” she said.

Corona del Mar resident Jack Andersen bought two tickets for box

seats in advance for Saturday’s match, thinking Sharapova would play,

before news of her withdrawal came during last Saturday’s Breakers’

match at Palisades.

He might miss out on seeing the new Wimbledon champion. Or so he

thought.

WTT officials, though, allowed fans with tickets to Saturday’s

match to exchange them for seats on Wednesday.

Andersen went to the club at 3 p.m. Monday and exchanged his two

tickets for comparable seats a row apart and was in attendance for

his third of five scheduled Breakers’ matches this season.

“This one is totally different, it’s unbelievable” said Andersen,

pointing to a row of added chairs. “Everyone knows who [Sharapova] is

and they have a shot at seeing her.”

Andersen was one of the lucky ones able to exchange tickets, said

WTT chief executive Ilana Kloss, in attendance at the match.

“This is the first sellout we’ve ever had, it’s exciting,” Kloss

said. “We want people to come back and see the product, not just

Maria.”

Many came, though, to see Sharapova, who didn’t miss a chance to

dabble in one of her hobbies while in town: shopping.

Sharapova said she visited South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island

while in the area.

“I’m not a big spender, but I love fashion,” Sharapova said. “I

don’t shop all the time. Most of the time I’m doing homework.”

Sharapova is in the second year of high school studies via an

Internet school.

Now she is learning what it feels like to be on top of the tennis

world.