Sports Hottie of the Week: Maria Sharapova 

Source: ReutersMaria Sharapova

This week we turn our attention back to tennis and a 22-year-old Russian who really needs no introduction.

When the phrase "Sports Hottie of the Week" is mentioned, the name Maria Sharapova immediately springs to mind.

Some say she's quite handy with a tennis racket and can handle herself on the court, but she's second to none when it comes to alluring good looks.

Sharapova lights up the WTA tour with her dazzling beauty - when she's not injured, that is.

In October 2008, men all over the planet groaned with horror when Sharapova was ruled out of action for 10 long months, leaving fans to endure almost a year's worth of Sharapova-less tennis.

When she's not on the court, Sharapova predictably plies her trade as a model, helped along by the fact she has been named the hottest athlete in the world by Maxim more than four times.

Arguably her most important career stats are that she was the most searched for athlete on Yahoo! in both 2005 and 2008.

Never mind the 20 WTA titles she's accrued to date.

Click here to check out our previous Sports Hotties of the Week .

Or click here to nominate your own Sports Hottie of the Week .