IT'S LOVE ALL FOR SMITTEN MARIA SHARAPOVA

The 6ft 2in former Wimbledon champion and world number one no longer obeys her father Yuri and is devoting all her attention to a mystery man.

This is what is claimed by Dzhamal Chakvetadze, father of another Russian tennis player Anna Chakvetadze.

"Maria's mind is just not set on tennis these days, it's all set on love," he told a Moscow newspaper. "I talked to her father Yuri several days ago.

"He's upset. He's lost all his influence on his daughter. Maria doesn't listen to him any more. She is in the middle of a love affair and doesn't need anyone except for this guy. I understand Yuri's feelings very well since I have my own daughter of about the same age."

Last year Sharapova, 21, was linked to American Charlie Ebersol, son of Dick Ebersol, US TV channel NBC Sport's chairman and president.

Sharapova missed the Australian Open apparently due to the recurrence of a shoulder injury. She was also absent from Russia's national team clash against China at the weekend.

Russian tennis captain Shamil Tarpischev says: "She'll be back when she wants to."