Maria bidding to improve history

Maria Sharapova will be hoping to avoid the fate of the only other Russian woman to reach the Wimbledon singles final.

That happened 30 years ago when Olga Morozova, a product of the old Soviet tennis system, made it through to the final where she lost in straight sets to Chris Evert, the American legend, who was making her first appearance in a Wimbledon final.

For Morozova, it was even tougher to take because she had just lost to Evert

in the French Open final - also in straight sets.

Morozova went on to reach a career high No1 in the singles rankings the following year and that is the next target for Sharapova who will be inside the top 10 thanks to her Wimbledon exploits.

Morozova was a consistent performer on the All England Club lawns, first reaching the quarter-finals in 1973 where she lost to Australian Margaret Court.

After the defeat by Evert the following year - having beaten Britain's Virginia Wade in the semifinal - she made two more quarterfinal appearances, losing to Billie Jean King and Evert in successive years.

Morozova is now coach of beaten French Open finalist Elena Dementieva, having worked for the LTA in Britain.