Russian starlet Sharapova wows Asia with double title win

Asia has fallen in love with Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova - and the feeling is mutual.
The 17-year-old Russian starlet left here on Sunday with two more WTA titles safely packed away in her luggage after a successful three-leg swing through the Far East that won her a new legion of admirers.
The last of her victories was a 6-0, 6-1 destruction of American Mashona Washington in the Japan Open final which attracted 9,288 spectators despite a howling typhoon which battered the region.
It followed her victory in the inaugural Korea Open a week earlier, a win watched by around 8,000 spectators, an unusually large audience for tennis in South Korea.
The only blemish was Sharapova's defeat to US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the China Open semi-finals two weeks ago, but it has not dampened her fondness for playing in Asia.
"I want to come back," said Sharapova when asked about her Asian tour. "I just, for some reasons, I don't know why, play well and feel really good here, and fans are amazing."
"That's the reason why I want to come back and always see them again and try to play my best, so I definitely want to come back."
Despite the Japan Open women's tournament being a substantially poorer event in terms of prize money than its men's counterpart, all the attention last week was focused on Sharapova.
Men's finalist Taylor Dent said he was not bothered by being overshadowed by Sharapova and the women's event.
"I think the women are great assets to men's tennis and tennis in general. I think the more attention they create the more events we will have, so it's vice versa," said the American.
"So if they are getting attention, it's great for us, it's great just to be a part of that. Hopefully, the matches are up to everybody's expectations, and we provide good entertainment.
Sharapova captured her first career WTA singles and doubles titles a year ago here, and also won her first professional title in the ITF Circuit series in Gunma, north of Tokyo, two years ago.
The only disappointment for Sharapova in Tokyo was that her name was not carved on the winner's trophy.
"By the way, they haven't updated this trophy, there's not my name on it, the last person is 2001, which is (Monica) Seles. We are in the 21st century. Come on! three years behind," complained Sharapova.