<p>The Russian tsarina said at the Australian Open that, despite branching out into fashion design, her hunger for hitting tennis balls, was undiminished.<br /><br />"I'm not in a place in my career where I need to prove something, to the outside, to myself," Sharapova, the world's highest-paid sportswoman, said in an interview.<br /><br />"I've done that numerous times with Grand Slams and being number one in the world," added the 23-year-old, a huge diamond ring glittering on her finger. "But bottom line: I play because I really love it. I had so many opportunities to think that I didn't."<br /><br />Sharapova, a three-times Grand Slam singles champion and Melbourne winner in 2008, underwent shoulder surgery later that year and is still looking to rediscover her best form.<br /><br />She knocked out one of her 'models' in German pin-up Julia Goerges in the third round of the year's first Grand Slam to set up a meeting with another German, Andrea Petkovic.<br /><br />In her day job, Sharapova has biffed and grunted her way to Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon (2004) and the US Open (2006) as well as in Melbourne three years ago.<br /><br />Only a French Open crown stands between her and a career Grand Slam. "The French is always a motivation, ever since I won the Australian Open and knowing it's the one I haven't won," said Sharapova, earrings dangling almost to the top of a red T-shirt.<br /><br />"I don't know if I've been fortunate that I haven't won three of one Grand Slam, but absolutely I've found the French to be my biggest challenge.</p>
<p>The Russian tsarina said at the Australian Open that, despite branching out into fashion design, her hunger for hitting tennis balls, was undiminished.<br /><br />"I'm not in a place in my career where I need to prove something, to the outside, to myself," Sharapova, the world's highest-paid sportswoman, said in an interview.<br /><br />"I've done that numerous times with Grand Slams and being number one in the world," added the 23-year-old, a huge diamond ring glittering on her finger. "But bottom line: I play because I really love it. I had so many opportunities to think that I didn't."<br /><br />Sharapova, a three-times Grand Slam singles champion and Melbourne winner in 2008, underwent shoulder surgery later that year and is still looking to rediscover her best form.<br /><br />She knocked out one of her 'models' in German pin-up Julia Goerges in the third round of the year's first Grand Slam to set up a meeting with another German, Andrea Petkovic.<br /><br />In her day job, Sharapova has biffed and grunted her way to Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon (2004) and the US Open (2006) as well as in Melbourne three years ago.<br /><br />Only a French Open crown stands between her and a career Grand Slam. "The French is always a motivation, ever since I won the Australian Open and knowing it's the one I haven't won," said Sharapova, earrings dangling almost to the top of a red T-shirt.<br /><br />"I don't know if I've been fortunate that I haven't won three of one Grand Slam, but absolutely I've found the French to be my biggest challenge.</p>