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THE SIBERIAN SIREN Maria Sharapova holds court during a glamourous meet-the-fans session at Velvet Underground. -- ST PHOTO: EDWIN KOO
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THEY are both 20-year-old Russian tennis starlets separated by just one rung in the world's top 10.
And both are in town for the first time to play each other in an exhibition match tonight at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
But Maria Sharapova and Anna Chakvetadze, ranked fifth and sixth respectively, are otherwise worlds apart.
At yesterday's pre-match press conferences at Fullerton Hotel - Chakvetadze first, then Sharapova - their differences were starkly apparent.
Dressed in a white long-sleeved, V-neck top and jeans, with light make-up and blonde hair neatly tied up, Chakvetadze radiated a shy, demure and angelic air.
The 1.70m-tall, 58kg Muskovite responded to questions from the media politely and cautiously, in simple English drenched with a heavy Russian accent.
When Sharapova stepped in an hour later for her turn with the media, it was as though a wave of energy swept into the room.
Dolled up in a frilly-necked blouse and jeans, with perfectly styled straight blonde hair, the former world No1 stood out for more than just her 1.88m-tall, 59kg frame.
Based in Bradenton, Florida, since age seven, Sharapova seemed unguarded and relaxed, rattling off spontaneous replies in a heavy American accent.
She even jibed at some members of the media - like teasing a journalist about the name of the local tabloid he wrote for.
On court, the differences between the two Russians were more hard-hitting.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova starts tonight's match the distinct favourite, leading the head-to-head clash 6-0.
As Chakvetadze admitted: 'Our styles are different. She's a great hitter, she has a great serve and she hits almost every ball.
'I'm trying to play smart because I can't really hit the ball that hard.'
Chakvetadze's style mirrors the retired Martina Hingis. Like the Swiss star, she is armed not with big shots, but a smart, tactical and creative percentage game.
Her rival, meanwhile, is known for fearless aggression, strong defensive skills and powerful serves and strokes.
Then there is Sharapova's on-court grunting. University of Moscow psychology undergraduate Chakvetadze called it 'American', likening it to American Serena Williams, who is 'always screaming like that'.
But her Russian compatriot retorted: 'I started grunting at the age of four and I was in Russia then, so I don't think it's an American thing.'
Noise aside, Sharapova has won all four of their clashes this year in straight sets.
Chakvetadze, though, has had more to talk about, enjoying a breakthrough season when she made it into the top 10.
She won four WTA Tour singles titles to bring her career tally to six, winning US$1,406,266 (S$2.04 million) in prize money - nearly 60 per cent of her career haul.
Sharapova, troubled by shoulder soreness this season, won one Tour title this year and earned US$1,758,550 in prize-money.
Both, however, agreed that tonight's match would be an excellent warm-up for next month's Australian Open.
They have not competed since the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid last month.
Sharapova felt the clash would not be easy, coming back after an off-season.
She said: 'It's challenging because you don't know what to expect from yourself, you don't know how the work you've put in will translate onto the match.'
Said Chakvetadze: 'I hope we'll have some fun on court and enjoy the match. It'll be very good preparation for me.'
Another thing the Russians agreed on: Singapore is a good candidate to win the bid to host the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games - even though Moscow is also in the running.
Naturally, they would prefer to see Russia win the bid.
Sharapova said: 'Obviously I'd love for it to come to Moscow, but both places are incredible... May the best win.'
Ditto for tonight's match.
jwang@sph.com.sg
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