Maria Sharapova is a self-described "girlie girl," a teenage tennis champion who enjoys posing for a photo shoot as much as winning tournaments.

Maria Sharapova has played down talk of a rift between her and Russia's other tennis 'tsarinas' ahead of next week's Australian Open.

Of the seven Russians ranked in the top 15 in women's tennis, the 17-year-old Sharapova may have the brightest future. The Wimbledon champion's still-improving game and model looks make the lanky 6-footer a star on and off the court.

But there are clearly tensions with some peers - particularly compatriot Anastasia Myskina - as they prepare for the Australian Open. Sharapova deftly sidestepped questions Saturday about what appears to be a growing feud with French Open titlist Myskina.

At No. 4, Sharapova is seeded one spot behind Myskina at the Australian Open. Asked how important it is for her to overtake her compatriot in the rankings, she smiled and said: "It's not as important as being No. 1 in the world, I'll put it this way."

Sharapova is younger than the 23-year-old Myskina and the other top Russian women. Though she considers some of them friends, the age difference means she doesn't have much in common with them.

Sharapova's rapid rise to Wimbledon champion has been well chronicled �� she was spotted at age 5 at a clinic by Martina Navratilova, and moved to Florida at 7 with her father to get the best coaching despite having only $700. Her mother was left behind due to visa problems, and Sharapova moved into a dormitory with older girls.

When Myskina won the French Open last year, she was a national hero. There was a more subdued reaction when Sharapova won Wimbledon a month later, with many noting that she calls Florida home now.

"She speaks Russian with a coarse accent," Myskina sniped in November, when she threatened to quit Russia's Federation Cup team if Sharapova joined the squad, saying she doesn't like Sharapova's father, Yuri.

Myskina lost to Sharapova at the season-ending WTA Championships, then accused Yuri of illegally coaching his daughter from the stands.

"He was just yelling and screaming instructions to her, and I thought he just might jump right on the court at one point in the match," Myskina said.

Sharapova was assessed a code violation for being coached by her father during her victory over Serena Williams in the final.

The incident doesn't seemed to have fazed Sharapova, who claims she only plays tennis because it's fun.

"I'm just enjoying life, enjoying what I do, and just working hard, hoping to be No. 1," she said Saturday. "If it doesn't happen, I'm not going to, you know, die. Many things can happen in life. You can get injured, and your career is over."

"I don't think that people really understand that I am only 17."

Source: Agencies/China Daily