Sharapova emerges as teenage tycoon

Maria Sharapova loves to shop, gossip with girlfriends, write and pore over photos in glossy fashion magazines. But that’s where similarities with other 17-year-olds end. She emerged this year as one of the world’s best tennis players, winning Wimbledon and carefully cultivating a lucrative endorsement portfolio whose worth puts a typical teenager’s allowance to shame.

"One day I can be with my friend talking about the girliest, weird things and the next day I’m in a meeting talking about a deal or sponsorship or doing a photo shoot that are run by all adults that want my opinion," she told The Associated Press recently. "I make the transition quite well. I always thought I’m more mature than other kids my age, but that’s because of the sport I play and the business I’m in. If you’re not mature, I don’t know how you can accomplish what you do."

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