WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Once a (teen) sensation, Maria Sharapova is the elder stateswoman at Wimbledon this year. At 24, the Russian is the oldest of the women's (semifinalists) at the All England Club, and by far the most experienced. Being the veteran is new for Sharapova, who was just 17 when she won her only Wimbledon title in 2004.
The other three semifinalists — Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Sabine Lisicki — are all 21 and have no Grand Slam finals among them. Only Kvitova has reached a Grand Slam (semifinal) before, having made the last four at Wimbledon last year.
"I think a few years don't really make that much of a difference," the fifth-seeded Sharapova said. "I think maybe if I achieved big things when I was a little bit older, not 17, maybe I wouldn't be seen as more of a (veteran). I'd still be considered young.
"But I don't regret for a second that I had a lot of success when I was young, because I feel like I got to learn so much more than players at my age."
