The Russians are coming!

The Russian revolution in the women's game began at Paris in the absence of the Americans. Anastasia Myskina won the battle to become the first Russian female to land a grand slam singles title when she beat a tearful Elena Dementieva 6-1 6-2. That particular little civil war was nothing, however, compared to the stunning victory of Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. The 17-year-old became the third youngest winner of the title, but it was the manner of her triumph that was most astonishing.

Facing two-times champion Serena Williams, probably the most powerful woman ever to wield a racket, Maria Sharapova matched her aggression shot for shot, then stepped up the ferocity of her hitting to leave the American looking overwhelmed. Afterwards, unfazed by what she had accomplished, Maria kept the Duke of Kent waiting with her trophy while she tried to send a text message to her mum in Florida. She looked forward, confidently, to years of rivalry with Williams. 'I'm taking it from you for one year. I'm sorry,' Sharapova told her opponent. As if to add insult to injury it was another Russian teenager, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who took Williams's US Open title.

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