Searching for the Next Big 'Ova'

WIMBLEDON, England -- July 4, 2007— -- Who will be the next Sharapova?

The answer is that the next great "Ova" is already here, dancing in and out of the wings.

But you have to take your pick:

Nicole Vaidisova, 18, of the Czech Republic took the Center Court stage this week by defeating the defending Wimbledon champion, Amelie Mauresmo of France.

Daniela Hantuchova, 24, of Slovakia, whose mannerisms on the court greatly resemble those of her Russian rival Sharapova, cut a determined figure here before losing to Serena Williams in three sets the same day.

For this year's Wimbledon championships, the Russians alone fielded 11 women players with the "ova" tag at the end of their names. Add the six Slovaks and 15 Czechs in the same category and it's altogether possible you could stage a terrific internationalwomen's championship limited to the "Ovas."

Still, the genuine article remains Maria Sharapova, 20, who is one of the world's top players and hottest endorsement vehicles. She has wonthe U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles plus 15 major women's tourevents and earned nearly $9,386,428 in prize money.

The era of the "Ovas" began with Martina Navratilova, the mostsuccessful women's player of all time. Her success set off ascramble among her Czechoslovak countrywomen when she sought asylumin the West in 1976.

The highest-ranking current Czech player is Vaidisova, along-legged blonde with a blistering serve and powerfulground strokes that propelled her past Mauresmo earlier this year aswell at the French Open.

"She's probably gonna make it one day," Mauresmo said yesterdayof her victorious rival, indicating that Vaidisova's talents couldsome day propel to one of the four most prestigious internationaltitles (Wimbledon, Australia, France and the United States).

In four years on the tour, Vaidisova has won $1,771,696 andcaptured six singles titles, according to Women's TennisAssociation records.

"She's a sweet girl," said Hanna Brabenek, a former Czechplayer who immigrated to Canada three decades ago. Their familiesare friends, and Vaidisova stayed with the Brabeneks in Vancouverwhen she won her first major professional title there in 2004.

Brabenek's husband, Josef, coached teams in Czechoslovakia andCanada. He said the East bloc's training methods are among theworld's best.

Yet Vaidisova's training has included a stint in Bradenton, Fla., at theNick Bollettieri Academy, where Sharapova learned her paces as well. Eastern work ethic with a little Western polish.

Hantuchova, too, trained with Bollettieri's coaches, spendingtwo years in Florida before turning professional in 1999. She hasearned $4,796,191. Both of her major singles titles came inCalifornia at Indian Wells, where she won the women's championshipin 2002 and 2007.

Like Sharapova, she is blonde and slender. But the resemblancegoes beyond looks.

On court between points, Hantuchova turns her back on heropponent and does a brief two-step that is virtually identical toSharapova's dance. A second habit they share: When they face adifficult point or a moment of uncertainty, both women stop, stareintently at their racket strings, sometimes fiddle with a string,then move ahead.

Does it matter that all three women are beautiful byconventional standards: blonde, tall, fit and slender?

Not in tennis terms, but advertisers and sponsors jump toassociate their products with female sports figures whose physicalattributes fit this pattern.

The only blonde, fit, tall and slender "Ova" who failed toreap a commercial endorsement bonanza, of course, was the first"Ova," Martina Navratilova, whose sexual orientation was deemedtoo controversial by many brands.

Are there any other similarities between today's threehigh-ranking "Ovas"? Yes, they were all born in April within fourdays of one another, although in different years.