Relieved Maria Sharapova ends 'amazing' year on women's tennis circuit

So what's a girl who loves to shop do with $1 million? "That's a lot of shoes," says Maria Sharapova, winner of Wimbledon and the year-end WTA Championships. The 17-year-old Russian is headed off to a "super-fantastic" vacation knowing she beat the world's top players over five consecutive days to earn one of the richest paycheques in women's tennis. "I certainly deserve a spot on that list," she said.

Maria rose to a career-high fourth in the year-end WTA rankings released Tuesday after starting the year at No. 32. She finished with a 55-15 match record and her fifth title after defeating an injured Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 Monday night.
"I've had an amazing year and accomplished so much," she said. "To achieve so much, I don't think a lot of people realize that I'm still 17."