Tennis: Sharapova plays it quiet

Maria Sharapova. Photo / Photosport.

She's the most glamorous female tennis player to grace the courts since Anna Kournikova retired, but Russian beauty Maria Sharapova is hardly living the life of a superstar in Auckland.

She was prepared to miss the city's spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display because she was in bed by 9.30pm, and a trip to the movies to see the critically-panned Little Fockers seems to have been the most exciting off-court action so far.

The former world No 1, in New Zealand to play in the ASB Classic which starts tomorrow, turned down the chance of a sightseeing trip in a helicopter and is still thinking about the offer of a cruise on the Waitemata Harbour.

Training and playing, it seems, is more important than anything.

Sharapova skipped a New Year's Eve function for the players at the Heritage Hotel, instead opting for a meal at SkyCity's Orbit restaurant and an early night.

"We had a nice dinner and a great view of the city," she said at her first media conference of the week yesterday. "The fireworks woke me up. I loved them - they were great. I wish I could have stayed up to watch them but I was too tired."

A spokesman for Orbit said Sharapova was "lovely to deal with".

A self-confessed foodie, she's eaten mostly at the hotel, though she's had a Thai meal at a Viaduct restaurant.

She hasn't mixed with the public much either, except for a wander up Queen St soon after her arrival, noticing the vertical bungy jump - "not something in my league" - and a lack of pushy residents.

"Normally people want an autograph or photo, but they just wanted to wish me good luck and tell me how great it was that I was here."

If anyone is to get a glimpse of the Russian beauty off the court, it might be an art dealer - she loves modern art and is looking to take some home. But though she also loves New Zealand wool, there is little chance of any leaving the country with her: "You have great rugs - but I am afraid I won't be able to send them or take them because they are so big."

Everywhere she goes, she is accompanied by a Kiwi security guard, apparently the same one hired to protect Tom Cruise when he was here for a film.

Tournament organiser Richard Palmer said the one-to-one protection had been done only once before for the women's tournament - when Kournikova visited. There will be extra security at the courts, too.

"We want to keep it Kiwi style - there won't be four big gorillas around her, but we have to take the measures necessary given her standing," Palmer said. "Plain clothes - you won't even notice they are there."

Perhaps it's just as well Sharapova has not needed too much time or money spent on extra-curricular activities - Palmer confirmed the tournament had already paid "considerably more than it ever has for a player" to get her here.

"But we paid less than most other tournaments would as the agent realises what is fair in our market."

Sharapova has drawn a tough first round match, against world No 57, Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. She will find out whether she plays tomorrow or Tuesday after qualifying finishes today.