Sharapova planning for tennis-free future

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova throws her head back and bursts out laughing.

"10 years? No," she chuckles to herself. "I don't think I'm going to be playing for another 10 years -- I'd love to have a family at 30 already!"

It is, perhaps, no surprise that at the tender age of 20 she should already be thinking of life beyond professional tennis.

The Russian is entering her fifth year on the WTA Tour, has a brace of grand slam titles for her efforts, climbed the summit to world number one and has amassed a fortune from the courts.

One of the more recognizable faces in sport, Sharapova has graced countless magazine covers and, according to internet search engine Google, just under 200,000 Web sites are dedicated to her.

However, sitting in a luxury hotel suite in Melbourne wearing grey trousers and a matching top with little jewelry or make-up, she appeared relaxed ahead of the Australian Open, confident in the knowledge her not-too-distant future will be spent away from the tennis world.

"I definitely want to go to college," Sharapova told Reuters.

Home schooled from around the time she first picked up a tennis racquet aged four, Sharapova now intends to follow in the footsteps of fellow tour professional Venus Williams and go to university.

OLD FASHIONED WAY

Unlike Williams, who completed her studies part-time around the rigors of the tour and graduated late last year, the tall Russian intends to replicate what millions of other undergraduates do every year.

Classrooms. Books. Organized timetables.

Though with career earnings of more than $10 million and many, many more in sponsorship and endorsements, including her role as Sony Ericsson's first global ambassador, it is doubtful she will be sharing a dormitory room or eating cafeteria food.

"I would love to do it in the old fashioned way where I go to a classroom and study," she smiled.

"I was home schooled. From kindergarten to high school I was taught by my mum.

"For four years of high school I was doing it through the internet, so I would love to have the experience of going to a school."