Maria Sharapova Through at Wimbledon, but Viktoriya Kutuzova Steals the Show

It is that time of the year again. Green grass and sunny weather with the all-important helping of strawberries and cream. Well, so the sponsors tell you.

Yes, it is Wimbledon, and it served off today with a titanic battle for former champion Maria Sharapova.

Petite Ukrainian Viktoriya Kutuzova did not look like much on paper, but her exploits today will see the hard-hitting 20-year-old taken a lot more seriously next time she steps on court.

Sharapova eventually ground out a 7-6, 6-4 win on court one at SW19.

Had Kutuzova remembered she had the help of Hawk-Eye, it could well have been a different result. She would have overturned at least three crucial points in her favour. As for the rest, though, we will never know.

The 24th-seeded Russian is far from her best, and that played a part in the closeness of the match. But watching Kutuzova time after time clinically leave Sharapova with no points during the former champion's own service games was a sight to behold.

All too often we see players crumble when met with the bigger names of the sport, so it was terrific to see a qualifier not only hold her own but attack a star with such vigour and skill.

With Kutuzova making shots that wouldn’t look out of place in a Wimbledon final, this part-time tennis fan sat up and took note of a quality tennis player, not just a pretty face.

At 20, she is not a spring chicken in the business that is elite woman’s tennis—and a world ranking in the 70s, which does not lie according to experts, in all likelihood means she may well be a journeyman player.

Her showing today, however, and the fact she has almost halved her world ranking in a single year could mean we’ll see Miss Kutuzova on the green grasses of Wimbledon next year.

This writer, for one, is very much looking forward to that.

Sharapova, who stole everyone’s hearts when crowning herself Wimbledon champion in 2004, will always be fondly remembered by fans for exploits on the court, as well as her tall, slim frame, which has made her equally famous off it.

But we British love an underdog, and the opening day of Wimbledon 2009 was no different.

So Kutuzova has stolen a few hearts. Not just because she is a good tennis player with a pretty face, but because unlike Miss Sharapova, she wouldn’t overshadow this writer when dressed in a pair of heels.