Sharapova socks it to Wimbledon with golden shoes
Sun 19 Jun, 2:45 PM

LONDON (AFP) - Maria Sharapova will wear gold-encrusted tennis shoes worth up to 900 dollars when she begins the defence of her Wimbledon title.

The 18-year-old Russian, who defeated Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam title at the All England Club in 2004, will sport shoes with 18-carat gold studs.

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To complete the ensemble, she will also wear a sweatshirt cover-up with a gold zipper.

"There are 18-carat gold specks in the shoes. They are totally different and hopefully they can attract my opponents because they shine unbelievably," Sharapova said on Sunday.

"I will use one pair each week but I have brought ten with me. I don't think they are for sale but I think they cost about 600 dollars or 900 dollars, something like that."

Since storming to the Wimbledon title in 2004, Sharapova is getting used to the luxurious trappings of being a top sportswoman as well as an international pin-up.

But there are drawbacks.

One Sunday newspaper here reported that a stalker has already been banned from this year's championships.

Sharapova said she tries not to let such stories disrupt her normal life, even continuing to take strolls around Wimbledon village.

It's there that her international profile hits her head-on courtesy of a huge advertising hoarding featuring the star promoting a mobile phone. It covers the side of an entire four-storey building.

"I have five bodyguards walking around with me all the time. I feel secure and safe. I'm always surrounded by people," she said.

"If I was worried about every step I was taking, I don't think I would be walking around. I have the bodyguards whenever I need them."

Sharapova became the second youngest winner of the women's title here last year and also the lowest seed, at 14, to achieve the feat.

Now she is a target at whom every player enjoys taking aim.

Williams even insisted on Saturday she lost the final by putting too much pressure on herself rather than Sharapova winning it.

"That match was a whole year ago," said the Russian preferring not to get drawn into a war of words.

"That's past, this is the present.

"It will be a lot harder for me this year having to defend the title. Last year I was 17 and who expected me to win? This year I am 18, I've more experience and there are going to be more expectations on me and that's normal as I am the number two in the world.

"But I am just going to go out there and enjoy myself, have fun, take it all in and not worry about anything else that's going on."