Indeed, her glowing good looks are in stark contrast to those of fellow player Daniela Hantuchova, 20, whose rapid weight loss and painfully skinny frame have shocked fans.
Miss Sharapova's parents made great sacrifices to get their daughter this far. Shortly after her mother Yelena found she was pregnant, the couple left their home in Belarus to escape the fall-out from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. They moved to Siberia, where Mr Sharapova worked in the oil fields in temperatures of minus 40c.
Then they moved to the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where four-year-old Maria was given her first racket by Russian tennis hero Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
It was battered and several of the strings were broken, but from the moment she picked it up it was obvious she was born to play.
At six she was spotted by Martina Navratilova, who recommended she be sent to the renowned Nick Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida.
The family could only afford to send Maria and her father to the U.S. Miss Sharapova was given accommodation at the academy, while her father spent two hours a day walking to and from the courts because he could not afford the bus fare.
Two years later, her mother was able to join the family - and they have not looked back since.
Although she cannot compete in the full women's world tour until she is 18, Miss Sharapova is already ranked 88th in the world.
Even if she loses to fellow Russian and number 33 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in today's fourthround match, she will still earn £34,200 in prize money - and her public profile has skyrocketed.
But the youngster - who lists fashion, singing and films among her interests and is reading the latest Harry Potter book between matches - insists fame will not turn her head.
'I know what my parents sacrificed,' she said. 'I have been given an opportunity and I'm determined to make the most of it. I want to be a great player.'
