She may be just 17, but Maria Sharapova has already cemented her place in history after the girl from Siberia with the sunshine smile lit up Centre Court to claim the Wimbledon title.

The progression of the 6ft blonde - who would not look out of place should she decide to step onto the catwalks of Paris instead of the courts at Roland Garros - has been nothing short of remarkable.

In the last 18 months, the Russian teenager has soared up the world rankings, breaking into the top 15, and is destined to climb higher following today's 6-1 6-4 win over defending champion Serena Williams.

Sharapova was the youngest winner of a WTA singles title in 2003 when she triumphed in the Japan Open while still 16, and picked up her first grass-court title in Birmingham last month before crowning a perfect summer with the most coveted prize of them all.

Yet it all began in the most humble of beginnings and her journey has been story of one sacrifice after another.

She was born in Siberia after her family had moved to escape the fall-out from the nuclear plant accident in Chernobyl.

Her big breakthrough came when she was spotted at an early age by Martina Navratilova during an exhibition match in Moscow, which led to a chance of attending the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, which had helped produce the likes of Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Boris Becker, Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters.

Sharapova's first tentative steps into her new life were not easy, though, with a combination of visa restrictions and financial constraints preventing her mother from making the long trip west.

Indeed, she also saw little of her father, Yuri, as he sought work to pay the bills and was forced to live in a dormitory for a year with older girls.

It was a testament to a strong support network as well as her own determination that Sharapova has become the emerging force of the women's game.

Indeed such has been her confidence during the past fortnight in SW19, that it is sometimes easy to forget Sharapova is still in the early part of a fledgling career which surely contains many more Grand Slam triumphs.

Sharapova, though, is just happy to savour the moment.

"What has happened is really incredible," reflected the 17-year-old, who fits her school work in between matches via the internet

"It's an amazing feeling, it gives me goosebumps. But it's happened so fast that it's still kind of new to me.

"These are moments in life we have to enjoy because not every teenager, every person, gets to experience such a moment in their lives.

"I know what it takes to achieve winning a Grand Slam and being number one in the world - it takes a lot of hard work and that's what I am prepared for."

Having secured her first ambition well before her 18th birthday, the small matter of topping the world rankings may now almost seem like child's play.