She's also shown herself to be a pretty good tennis player.

Unlike her countrywoman Anna Kournikova, Sharapova has some substance behind the glitz.

Kournikova maybe world class in a magazine layout but on the court, she basically washed out.

Sharapova, on the other hand, looks like a winner whether she's posing for a photo shoot or has a racket in her hand. She shows beauty not only in her appearance but in her groundstrokes as well.

The question now is can Sharapova kick her game up a notch and go from being very good to being dominant? Can she move forward from winning the occasional tournament to collecting hardware on a regular basis?

Was her memorable victory at Wimbledon in '04 as a precocious 17-year-old a harbinger of things to come or could it have possibly been the apex of her career?

Believe it or not, the leggy 6-2 blond might be at a crossroads at the tender age of 19.

Having been a pro for better than five years and currently ranked number 4 in the world, Sharapova has both the experience and the game to become something truly special.

And the fact that she's won 12 tournaments including three Tier 1 events indicates that she knows how to perform during crunch time.

But that amazing run in London two years ago placed exceedingly high expectations on Sharapova. Winning Wimbledon at such an early age led to the assumption that plenty more Grand Slam titles would surely follow.

And they very well might.

But getting that second major title is proving to be elusive. Oh sure, she's reached four Grand Slam semi-finals since her Wimby crown and that's nothing to discount. On balance, that's a significant achievement.

Yet, the truly great players are measured by their Grand Slam victories and in that regard Sharapova is lagging. Virtually everyone thought that she would have copped at least one or two more majors by this time.

As a result, some in the tennis community have begun to whisper that perhaps Sharapova will never achieve greatness. Though they're quick to concede that she'll remain a splendid player, they doubt she'll ever become one of the all-time best.

To more than a few insiders, Sharapova's ability to reach that super elite level and carve out a place for herself in the history books is in serious question. 

In other words, she's pretty good but she's pretty far from being pretty sensational.

And if she's ever to really assert herself on WTA Tour, her skeptics think she'd better do it pretty soon.

So it's not that hard to argue that indeed Sharapova has reached one of those seminal periods in her career. If another year should pass without her adding to her Slam total, then the future could get somewhat dicey and problematical. 

With each succeeding failure, Sharapova might find it all the more difficult to kick in that Grand Slam door that could have become bolted. 

And should Sharapova begin to dwell on what she hasn't done as opposed to what she's accomplished, it's possible she could develop a legitimate mental block when it comes to the majors.

A genuine negative vibe could take root in her head. And should that happen, Sharapova most likely would begin to press and experience a strong sense of frustration. The pressure to succeed in the big events could intensify to the point where it might overwhelm her.

But that's a worst-case scenario that doesn't seem all that realistic.

From a distance, Sharapova seems to be made of sterner stuff. She's demonstrated enough grit in the past that she won't easily cave before daunting challenges. 

Despite what others may say about her toughness, Sharapova has the wherewithal to fight through whatever obstacles she may encounter. She may look angelic but there's steel in her eyes and a fire in her belly.

So take this to the bank. Under duress, she'll survive and endure a hell of a lot more times than she'll melt. Count on it!

And though plenty of tennis aficionados claim she hasn't quite lived up to expectations, this reporter has a different take.

It says here that Sharapova is right on track with her development and progressing at a more than satisfactory rate.

Having seen her play thrice in the last two years, there's a world of difference between the vulnerable Sharapova of '04 and the more mature and poised Maria of the present.

Her growth has manifested itself in many ways.

Earlier in her career, Sharapova would quickly get impatient and go for winners much too soon in a rally. Hence, she needlessly forced the action which usually led to lost points.

Nowadays, with a brimming confidence in her powerful groundstrokes, Sharapova is much more judicious when she goes for it.

Though still very aggressive, Sharapova has reined herself in just enough to ensure greater accuracy and consistency. When an opportunity presents itself, she'll pounce like a cat but no longer does she take an abundance of reckless chances.

Strength is another area were Sharapova has made a significant upgrade. Although always blessed with a certain amount of zip on her shots, Sharapova can now really pound the ball.

Both on the forehand and with her two-handed backhand, Maria can generate impressive velocity. Balls just seem to explode off her racket.

Having matured more physically and using to maximum effect the leverage that her lengthy 130-pound frame provides, Sharapova has evolved into one of the game's big bangers. Facing her potent assault is proving to be no easy task for anyone forced to stand in her firing line.

Other noticeable Sharapova improvements have come in a much more dependable serve, better footwork and in a stamina that is no longer a weakness.

Moreover, she's gotten grittier. Once perceived to be somewhat shaky when push came to shove, Sharapova has amped-up her internal resolve and is now considered much more of a battler on the court. She may still go down but not before putting up an admirable fight.

Now, while important enhancements have clearly taken place,  Sharapova is far from being a finished product. She still looks uncomfortable at the net and her stretch volleys could use plenty of work. Her court coverage could also stand some polishing.

But by and large, her game is solid and at times verges on being spectacular.

Truthfully, there's only one thing that's preventing Sharapova from becoming a superstar and reaching the pinnacle of her sport. And it's a reality that can't be ignored.

To date, Maria has been turned into mincemeat by the players ranked directly above her. Against the top three, she's bottomed out. And unless that changes, her promise and potential will never be fulfilled.

The numbers don't lie and the story they tell is not a pretty one. Against Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clisters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the usually competitive Sharapova is a woeful 2 and 11. That goes beyond getting your ass beat. That qualifies as downright annihilation.

Sharapova's inability to offer more resistance against the aforementioned players is the sole reason her Grand Slam count has stalled at one.

If she had been just slightly more competitive in those matches, a couple more majors would be resting in her trophy case right this minute.

But remember this, she's still but a young woman of 19. There's still plenty of time to tweak and fine-tune her game.

She's enjoyed a detectable progression in each year she's been on the Tour and that pattern continues to this day. Her abilities have never stagnated. She's never stopped improving. Her game has always been on the ascent.

As long as that remains the case, memorable achievements are just right around the corner. If Sharapova stays the course, it's hard to imagine her not reaching the mountaintop someday.

To be sure, Maria is merely very good at present and can't be considered great. That distinction has yet to come.

But unless this writer misses his guess, Sharapova will eventually advance from being notable to being a superlative player.