I'm a stamp-collecting dork, says Sharapova

LONDON: Maria Sharapova may be one of the world's most glamourous sportswomen but inside beats the heart of a stamp-collecting "dork", she said on Thursday.

The 19-year-old Russian, who at the weekend admitted she had fallen in love with the Wimbledon museum, admitted she fears being labelled an "absolute geek" for revealing her secret hobby.

She said her email inbox was already brimming with correspondence from fellow philatelists keen to chat about her album.

"Everyone's calling me a dork now," the 2004 Wimbledon champion said.

"My agent said not to talk about that because he's definitely gotten so many emails from people. We're getting emails from, like, stamp collecting magazines asking if I can do an interview.  It's just a hobby.  I'm actually good telling stories, but that is one I should have never talked about."

The number four seed said it was fun to do but refused to reveal what was the pride of her collection.

"Oh, my goodness. Let's get off this subject because I'm going to be an absolute geek tomorrow," the grinning teenager said.

On the court, Sharapova, the fourth seed, produced an awesome display of power as she crushed America's Ashley Harkleroad in the second round.

There were few mistakes from the Russian as she defeated her fellow Florida resident 6-2, 6-2 in 67 minutes.

Sharapova had the US number eight running all over Court Two, dubbed the "graveyard of the seeds" because so many have come unstuck there over the years.

The fourth seed now faces American Amy Frazier in the third round.