Maria Sharapova Six Foot Two and Still Growing

Maria Sharapova is not only rising in the rankings, she’s also getting taller, AP reported Tuesday. The 18-year-old Russian, who jumped to No. 1 in women’s tennis Monday, is listed in the WTA’s official guide as 6-foot. Not so, she says.



Maria has grown 4,72 inches in the past year, Dni.ru reported in April quoting the player’s personal doctor. Her growth was one of the reasons she had to refuse playing for Russia in the Federation Cup in Italy.



However the star herself denounced the rumors, saying she was not growing anymore, being six feet tall.



“I have stopped growing,” she was quoted by gzt.ru website as saying. “I hope I have.”



Now Sharapova admitted to Time magazine she’s 6 feet 2 inches tall, and she’s not exactly thrilled with the extra 2 inches.



“I wouldn’t say I’m in love with them because if I wear heels, I’m like 6-foot-4,” she was quoted by AP as saying. “It’s a little too tall.”



Sharapova, preparing for next week’s U.S. Open, overtook Lindsay Davenport for the No. 1 spot. At the end of 2002, her ranking was No. 186.



“It’s actually shocking,” Sharapova says. “Before I was trying to lay off the whole thing, saying, `I’m not worried about it, it’s not important.’ But you know, once you get there, it’s, like, wow!”