Maria Sharapova Look-Alikes
Maria Sharapova was back feeling sexy again Saturday just one day after blaming her opening match struggles at the ATP/WTA Pacific Life Open on an illness.
The 19-year-old Russian beauty made an appearance Saturday at the Maria Sharapova Look-Alike contest held outside the main stadium at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden facility.
“We are bringing back sexy,” an upbeat Sharapova said during the popular event which was sponsored by an international camera company and attracted a crowd of about 400 people.
Top seed Sharapova survived a scare in her second round match on Friday at Indian Wells, winning 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 over Michaella Krajicek.
Sharapova did not talk about her match against Krajicek. Asked what it was like to have a contest in her honour Sharapova said, “It is weird, very weird.”
While the seven tall, blonde and leggy contestants modelled their tennis outfits on a catwalk stage, Sharapova described what it was like to be back competing at Indian Wells.
“I am a lot stronger than I was when I first played here as a 14-year-old. I am not even at the peak of my career yet,” she said.
The contest winner and crowd favourite declined to give her real name but said she was tennis fan from Las Vegas.
She said she plays tennis regularly but her backhand needs work. “It could use some improvement. I doubt if I could beat her.
“I just love her. She’s gorgeous and has a great personality on the court,” said the Los Angeles-based Biola University student.
Another contestant from Los Angeles said the look-alikes get some strange reactions from people around the tennis stadium who want to stop and talk to them.
“Lot’s of people have been taking my picture. They like to line us up and choose right then and there who looks the most like her.”