How to solve a problem like Maria's

Maria Sharapova in Auckland on Friday. Photo / Doug Sherring

Tennis flop Maria Sharapova served herself up a chick flick and a greasy kebab to help get over her shock defeat at the ASB Classic this week.

The Russian beauty feasted on a large chicken kebab with extra garlic yoghurt and rice from the Chargrill Kebab Burger in central Auckland after being swept aside by eventual winner Greta Arn on Thursday.

The 23-year-old sent her Swedish coach Thomas Hogstedt to pick up takeaways while she stayed in her room at the Heritage Hotel.

The restaurant manager, who had served Sharapova last week, asked after her by her Russian nickname: "I asked him how was Masha?"

"She loves your food," Hogstedt assured him.

The manager told him that Chargrill Kebab Burger had Russian music, if she wanted to come over.

The next day - after another early night - Sharapova went to see romantic comedy Morning Glory starring Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford.

Tennis' glamour girl wore a somewhat unflattering ensemble of black pants, a loose-fitting white blouse, and tried to hide her face behind her long blonde hair.

In a nod to Outrageous Fortune, she completed the outfit with a pair of leopard-print ballet flats and a $300 silver Cole Haan handbag from her own "Maria Sharapova Collection".

Accompanied by coach Michael Joyce, the 188cm athlete strode virtually unnoticed through the lunchtime rush in central Auckland.

An Event cinema worker, who declined to be named, said she served the star a ticket for the 12.50pm screening.

"I didn't know it was her," she said. "But I thought it was strange she was wearing her sunnies inside," she said.

Sharapova flew out to Australia on Friday night to prepare for the Australian Open which starts on January 17.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister Helen Clark arrived in a limousine to watch Arn, the little-known world No 88, beat defending champion Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets.

Her fairytale story rounded off a good week for the ASB Classic. Sharapova was the main drawcard and her presence, along with that of Wickmayer, former world No 1 Dinara Safina and two-time grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, ensured record crowds at Stanley St.

Around 30,000 turned up across the six days, making it one of the only WTA tournaments that has ever sold out.

See match report p66