Russian tennis star, world No. 2 Maria Sharapova was named third in the Female Athlete of the Year list by the Associated Press.

Sharapova shares third place with WNBA most valuable player Lisa Leslie who also got 60 points in the voting by sports editors from around the country.

The announcement comes a day after Tiger Woods was named Male Athlete of the Year. Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa was the first on the Female list.

Tennis star Maria Sharapova won the best celebrity smile survey conducted by American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) to find out who of the Hollywood stars and athletes had the star-worthy smiles.
The 42 percent of respondents said tennis star Maria Sharapova had the best female athlete smile. The U.S. golf player, Tiger Woods was called the male athlete with the best smile by 59 percent of respondents, showed the survey conducted by the largest non-profit association of cosmetic dental professionals in the world, AACD.

Maria Sharapova was also featured in the January issue of the U.S. Vogue dedicated to the best dressed celebrities and it wasn’t the first time that Sharapova was mentioned in the lists of celebrities compiled by prestigious glossy magazines.

In general, the outgoing 2006 was the best in Maria’s career. She won five tournaments, including the U.S. Open, and advanced to the tennis No. 2 by the year end.

Land Rover has announced a multi-year relationship with Wimbledon Champion and one of the world’s most talented female athletes – Maria Sharapova.
The internationally regarded 18-year-old will formally assume a new role as an ambassador for the Land Rover brand at an exclusive Land Rover VIP event in New York. The multi-year relationship includes her use of Land Rover vehicles, and her participation in retail promotions and events. Tennis star Maria Sharapova with Land Rover
Sharapova joins the Land Rover team with a multitude of accomplishments including winning Wimbledon in 2004 and being named among the “50 Most Beautiful People” by People Magazine in 2005. Her global personality and strong performance in international tennis is the perfect match for Land Rover, a brand that offers a modern line-up of powerful and award-winning Sport Utility Vehicles.

“Her drive to win on the court combined with her need for the latest technology to keep her on the road to success means this new relationship is a winning combination and a natural fit,” said Mike O’Driscoll, President, Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America. “In many ways, she reflects the same sense of adventure and extraordinary abilities that our vehicles represent. Maria’s determination and inspirational success combine to make her a global icon and we are delighted that she will be associated with Land Rover.”

Maria Sharapova and Nikolay Davydenko have been voted Russia’s best players for the second year in a row, the country’s tennis federation announced at its annual award gala on Sunday.

The Florida-based Sharapova has won five titles this year, including the U.S. Open, to finish number two in the world behind Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne…