So the tournament has come to an end for Maria. Late on monday evening, she lost to her compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets, and so faling short of my predictions for the tournament. However, as with the performance in Birmingham a fortnight ago, one should not be too disappointed. I mean, for goodness sake this is only the third Grand Slam she has ever been in, and we are disappointed that she hasnt made the quarters? It is only her second senior grass court event, and we are disappointed she didnt get the chance to take on Henin (for the record, i think she could have taken her based on last weeks performances). No, disappointment is not the word for this. So what word can be used? Pride? Disbelief? Smugness? Exhaustion?

The final one certainly applies. I visited the championships for the first week, and enjoyed myself to the extent that i even slept in a youth hostel surrounded by strangers, with an uncomfortably concerning smell coming from each room. However, the sacrifice my nasal passage made ensured taht my eyes got something of a treat. Monday, my first day at the Championships, was one of the most enjoyable days of my commendable life! Not only did we witness the loss of Lleyton Hewitt, but Rich (Richy Boy off the boards if people spend much time there) pulled a tennis player. I wont mention any names for fear of jeopardising the relationship, but had i not witnessed the event, i would have called him a liar, such was the obviousness of the look he got given! Then following something of a lull, we enjoyed a mad hour, where we couldnt seem to move without tripping over a celebrity. This bit is reletively unimportant to the article, its just ill take any opportunity i get to mention what im about to say. First we bumped into one Jelena Dokic, who somewhat surprised me in her attractiveness, so that was a bonus. Then i had the honour of having a photo taken with the second greatest centre back Britain has ever produced, one Alan Hansen. This was followed by sightings of Alastair Mcgowan and Statto of Fantasy Football back in the day (only UK readers will get the last two people). Then finally we got a glimpse of Maria heading up to the practice courts. We all knew here how talented she was, but the way in which she identified Glyn as the fool that he is was brilliantly done, and the manner in which she dealt with him was magnificent, and nothing short of excellence!!!!

So that was the first day. Having queued since 7am for a day where there seemed rather little to attract the eye, the day was certainly entertaining, and i got a photo taken with Alan Hansen. Brilliant.

Unfortunately, i rather foolishly missed Maria's first round match. I still managed to watch it on tv however, and i will reiterate what i said all week. Should Maria produce a performance like the match against Harkleroad against one of the Williams sisters, she would have caused them some trouble and got a third set out of them. The performance was simply class. She couldnt help but hit the chalk every stroke. Her serves were working well, and her returns were some of the best i have ever seen, let alone from someone making their debut at Wimbledon. Rather than being overawed by the scenario she was in, Maria came, saw and destroyed her opponent. Someone watching it with little tennis knowledge would have thought that Maria was the world number 39, and Harkleroad was the young rookie with a good game and big future in the next few years. The performance was of a top standard, and gave me great hope that my prediction for her to reach the quarters would become reality.

And so to round two. Thursday afternoon, and still the championships had not suffered any rain. Surely that was a big enough shock, let alone Maria pulling out a win against 21st seed Elena Bovina. But yet again, Maria pulled out another stunning performance. With support increasing (i had expected the band wagon jumping to begin later in the week), Maria despatched of her opponent with ease, again looking like the more experienced opponent. It wasnt a performance on a par with the first round match, but Bovina and Harkleroad are different players, with different styles and so it would be foolish to suggest that it would be as easy as before. However, foolish as it may have seemed, Maria dished out another performance of top standard and gave a lesson to any youngsters on how to play a game of grass court tennis, consistenly hitting the line, and working points wonderfully.

The win against Bovina set up the match that many in tennisrulz wanted to see: Dokic v Sharapova. I certainly wanted to see it to prove the Dokic biased group i was with that the girl could play. And show them she did. We began watching the match through the windows in the press office due to some harsh sceduling (especially having camped out all night in the freezing cold on friday night with the assumption taht there were too many big names for the match to be on a show court on middle saturday at Wimbledon). Anyway, that progressed from watching through a window to blagging into Court One and watching the match. However, yours truly did not get such an opportunity, and so was left to watch the scoreboard from the outside courts. Fortunately for me, Maria pulled off the win of  her short career, and the ever increasing hype could then go through the roof, accentuated by the kisses she blew to the crowd following her victory.

From being a small site at the start of the year, Maria can now expect huge support wherever she goes. Her performances here this week have been of the top standard. She and those around her have always been seemingly keen to maintain the Kournikova comparisons to a minimum, and the performances this week will have eased these comparisons, as critics begin to realsie that this one pretty girl can play a bit as well.

And the other thing that comes with her success is acceptance. Following day one at Birmingham, the British press certanily seemed somewhat concerned by the amount of noise she made. Especially following complaints from certain players who were attempting to find something to blame their poor form on, the media was concerned simply with the fact that she was pretty girl who made a lot of noise, and that is all they picked up on. Now however, across the papers, analysts are saying that most players make noise whilst playing, and to challenge the Williams sisters, then a powerful game is needed. Hmm, someone around here said that  the other day didnt they?????

All in all, the week was a wonderful success from Maria's point of view. Personally, i was left a little disappointed again, but lessons from the past have taught me not to delve into those publically. What i will mention though is the concern i have. I know its one that others who joined me at Wimbledon share. This week Maria is 91 in the world. She is 16 years old and she has played in a handful of tournaments. Indeed, next week she will rise a great many places, and with the hardcourt season to come, she could be high in the rankings come the end of the season. However, let us not forget that she is only at the beginning of her career. The arrogance in Maria and those involved with her was clear to see, and it is this which disappoints. Compared to other players i met over the week, Maria was easily the lowest ranked. However, she was the most reluctant to speak, and responded to questions only in grunts. I spoke to her coach, and explained that understandably, the girl needs to be protected. At 16, to have the world chasing you is certainly something that isnt needed. But even bloody Andre Agassi found the time to thank me when i wished him good luck. Did Maria? No. So my warning to anyone that is going to a tennis tournament in the near future is to not expect too much. I was left horribly disappointed following Birmingham, and blamed those around her (some falsely). However, having spoke to her directly and those around her, i was left with the same disappointed feeling, and i fear, or rather i know, such is the quality of Maria's game, that it will only get worse. As i write this, i relive that disappointment, and sympathise with anyone reading this who had aspirations to met and speak to Maria, because it simply isnt going to happen.

And thats the sad note to what was otherwise an absolutely fantastic week.