From Russia With Love: Sharapova's Marketability On Rise

Not Just A Pretty Face Anymore

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova's agents "have been fielding calls from literally hundreds of companies that want to sign" her to endorse their products, according to Russell Scott Smith of the N.Y. POST. Sharapova's IMG agent Max Eisenbud said, "Everything has changed now, and any plans we had a couple of weeks ago, we have to re-evaluate." Sharapova will appear in a nine-page photo spread in the August issue of Italian Vogue. Allure fashion dir Sasha Charnin Morrison said, "Everybody loves a winner — and especially a beautiful one. This girl has a grace and elegance we haven't seen in a while. She's stunning" (N.Y. POST, 7/7). In Miami, Michelle Kaufman wrote Sharapova, who counts Nike and Prince among her endorsements, "is expected to add several accounts to her portfolio." Eisenbud, on interest generated by her win over Serena Williams in the Wimbledon finals: "It's been everything you would imagine. Requests for interviews and photo shoots from every tabloid you can think of, magazines, TV shows, calls of congratulations, a million requests for appearances and meetings" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/5).

JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE: CNNMONEY.com's Chris Isidore does not expect Sharapova "to be all over the airways hawking clothing, consumer products or even tennis equipment any time soon." Any deal she signs "now would probably be at a steep discount to the money she'll be able to command in a few years if she continues to win on the court." A member of Sharapova's business team said that "there were other major companies interested in signing her, even before her success at Wimbledon. She's turned down most of the offers ... to concentrate on her tennis game." Sharapova has a "relatively modest" deal with Nike; a five-year deal reportedly worth $750,000 with Prince; a Japanese deal with NEC; and a deal with Speedminton — a combination of tennis, badminton and racquetball (CNNMONEY.com, 7/3).

ANNA-PLUS: The WASHINGTON TIMES wrote Sharapova is "a beauty who — unlike Anna Kournikova — turns into a beast on the court." But Sharapova "slipped in under our radar. ... We usually find out about any Certified Protegies fairly early in their careers, well in advance of their first major championship" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/6). The Marketing Arm Managing Dir Jeff Chown: "She has great marketing potential. She has the looks of Kournikova, but the game will keep her in the public eye" (CNNMONEY.com, 7/3).

SHE'S THE ONE: In N.Y., Christopher Clarey wrote Sharapova "dragged women's tennis out of its season-long doldrums and became a star." Martina Navratilova called Sharapova's victory "great for women's tennis. It's the best thing that could have happened to us really" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/5). ESPN tennis analyst Mary Jo Fernandez: "Maria is the best thing that could have happened to women's tennis. Fresh blood, a

great personality to add to the mix. She's a great player, great head on her shoulders, plus the photographers and press love her. She's the complete package" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/5). In Ft. Lauderdale, Charles Bricker wrote Sharapova "right now is a more bankable commodity than either of the Williams sisters" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 7/5). In L.A., Diane Pucin wrote the WTA "has been in need of this sort of breakthrough player." WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott: "It's great to see a new star emerge. Maria adds a whole new dimension to the rivalries at the top of the tour" (L.A. TIMES, 7/4).

MORNING GLORY: Sharapova appeared today on CBS' "The Early Show," and yesterday on "Live with Regis & Kelly" and NBC's "Today." Sharapova is also featured on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated (THE DAILY).