Goodbye Sharapova

It's a sad statement on the state of women's tennis when Maria Sharapova is counted on to drive viewership to the women's draw. Sharpova bowed out to the 45th ranked Gisela Dulko from Argentina in the second round, and ESPN and NBC are apparently panicking. I understand that the networks need "personalities" to sell the sport, but does Maria really fit the bill?

Yes, she is attractive, but there are certainly many other even more attractive women on the pro-tour. Yesterday, Maria wasn't even the most attractive player on the court- I would guess that most men would prefer the lovely Argentine over the grunting Russian. Anna Ivanovic may be the most attractive woman on the pro tour, but she somehow still flies under the radar here in the U.S.

American televsion networks that cover women's tennis have long disregarded average looking, top ranked players in favor of covering the matches of more nubile hotties. When Lindsay Davenport was ranked number 1, she generated less TV interest than Anna Kournikova- a very average player- even when Anna was below the age of consent.

Aside from Sharapova, the only other female players that are currently considered "marketable" on American TV are the Williams sisters. The networks would rather show the Williams sisters annihilating some pathetic pairing in a first round doubles match, then a competitive match involving the world's number one- Dinara Safina.

In fairness, there are a preponderance of colorless automatons from the old iron curtain countries. In this year's Wimbledon draw, 53 of the 128 women are from the old eastern block, with 15 of the top 32 seeds as well. At the moment, women's tennis is little more than a diversion for me- something to endure while waiting for the men's matches to come on. Sorry ladies, but with or without Sharapova, the women's game needs a boost.