Maria Sharapova 

There is something about Maria Sharapova, something at odds with her ready smile and glamorous attire.And that something in her lifted her on Monday,22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women's tennis.All this happened in almost on time.Poised beyond her years, the Siberian born teenager took just four years as a professional to reach the pinnacle.However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure. Little Maria had not yet trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on path to success and started.But it also required a heart _ wrenching two _ year separation from her mother Yelena.The latter was compelled to stay back in Siberia because of visa restrictions. The nine_ year_ old girl had already learnt an important lesson in life _ that tennis excellence would only come at a price. "I used to be so lonely," Maria Sharapova recalls. "I missed my mother terribley. My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis _training going.So, he couldn't see me either."Because I was so young, I used to go to bed at 8 p.m.The other tennis pupils would come in at 11 p.m.and wake me up and order me tidy up the room and clean it.  " Instead of letting that depress me,I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.learnd how to take care of myself. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted . when you come from nothing and you have nothing, then it makes you very hungry and determined. .. I would have put up with much humiliation and insults then that to steadfastly pursue my dream."

That toughness runs through maria even today. It was the key to her bagging the women's singles crown wimbledon in 2004 and to her metoric rise to the world number one spot the following year.