Russia enjoys Sharapova's fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a 17-year-old Siberian girl who reached the Wimbledon final. Such was the fairy tale sketched by Russia's media on Friday.

Maria Sharapova's 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 win over former world number one Lindsay Davenport on Thursday catapulted her into the final at the All England Club, the first Russian woman to contest the title match for 30 years.

"A Russian fairy tale: Masha and the Final!" said a headline in Sovietsky Sport.

Kommersant daily, normally preoccupied by business stories, exclaimed "Maria Sharapova, a little girl no longer!"

Sharapova's semi-final victory rounded out an impressive month for Russian tennis.

First came the first all-Russian final in Grand Slam history at the French Open in early June.

Anastasia Myskina beat Elena Dementieva in the final at Roland Garros to become the first Russian woman to lift one of the sport's four major prizes.

Now, less than a month later, another Russian has reached a Grand Slam final with Sharapova taking on American Serena Williams on Saturday.

"There's never been such a successful month in the history of Russian tennis," wrote Kommersant.

Being photogenic also helped blonde Sharapova, who is often compared to compatriot Anna Kournikova, win space in the papers.

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They said she beat 1999 Wimbledon champion Davenport because of her youth, grace and hunger for success.

"There was Davenport, a mere fateful shadow of a once-famous player. And there -- young, fast, beautiful, swift, predatory, and scenting blood -- was Maria Sharapova," wrote Kommersant.

"Like a tidal wave, she broke against her rival and simply swept her away."

Other papers were not quite as effusive.

Vremya Novostei daily said one of Wimbledon's regular rain breaks had played a large part in Sharapova's semi-final success.

Whether she won through rain-aided luck or sheer talent, the papers agreed she had a bright future.

"This is how stars are born," wrote Izvestia.

Now only twice-champion and top seed Williams stands between Sharapova and a happy ending. But then, it is a fairy tale.