LOS ANGELES -- In the six days I spent watching and listening to Maria Sharapova at the WTA Tour Championships, there was one thing I had to constantly remind myself: She's only 17.

So, when she'd sigh and give less-than-enthusiastic responses to my questions, I had to remember not to take offense because: She's only 17.

For example, when I asked her about the preponderance of Russian players in the Top 10, her response was a cool, "and?" And when I asked what that said about the future of Russian tennis, she was like, "I can't predict the future, I can only live in the now."

Well, that is true, her time is now.

On Monday, Sharapova won the WTA Tour Championships with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over an injured Serena Williams at Staples Center. While that win doesn't make the 2004 Wimbledon champion the best player in the world -- that honor still belongs to top-ranked Lindsay Davenport -- it does make her one of the best. Fourth best, to be exact.

That's kind of scary considering: She's only 17.

But at times, there was no mistaking her age. The day before the tournament began, Sharapova, along with seven other top players in the field, participated in the WTA's all-access day. Sure, it required suffering for the people on the other side of the microphone, causing some athletes and most celebrities to morph into their superficial twins when dealing with representatives of the Fourth Estate.

Sharapova did not.

She giggled when asked about Andy Roddick's hunk appeal.

"He's a character, he's funny," she said. "All of the American girls like him and I'm more of a European type but, whatever Andy, you're popular!"

I'm sure he'll be happy to hear that. But remember Andy, she's only 17.

It was also on that day that huge billboards of Sharapova were strategically placed around town to advertise the WTA Tour Championships. And tennis was probably the last thing on anyone's mind once they peeped that reclining image of Sharapova, above the words: "The closer you get, the hotter it gets."

Once again folks, she's only 17. Can't we just let her try and enjoy what's left of her childhood before she enrolls in Babelicious U?

Sharapova, however, took it all in good humor, saying: "Wow, now I really am bigger than life!"

With her lovely personality and her cover-girl looks it's only a matter of time before Sharapova becomes either the second coming of Whoopi Goldberg or Anna Kournikova. She's already a sponsor's delight -- she gets along with the media and unlike Kournikova, she's already won major titles. And right now she's still young enough to appreciate her fame.

Well, sometimes.

"If I have food in my mouth," she said, "and people come up to me and are fanatics, then yeah, it is a little bit of like 'you're bothering me.' But you know, other times, I don't mind, you know, if people come up to me and ask for my autograph. I sign the autograph and just keep doing what I am doing.'"

Most of the time she's shopping. Sharapova, like many women before her, is totally into shoes. Manolo Blahniks are her favorites. She also digs the Lakers -- especially Kobe Bryant -- and she loves just hanging out in L.A. "I love the beaches, the sun, the hotels and Rodeo Drive," she squealed.

But she hasn't gone Hollywood just yet. Right now Sharapova has no plans to compete with Williams on the silver screen.

"No, I don't think so," she said. "I haven't done a lot of acting. I think it is great, you know, once in a while to do something different. I am, you know, a renaissance woman. And I love to try different things. I love fashion. You know, after working so hard on the court you are either doing something for the company you are with or something else. If there is a photo shoot, I find it very glamorous because definitely the work on the court is not very glamorous. So, it feels good to get the makeup on."

Sounds like she's ready for her close-up. But she might need a nip or tuck first.

"I've played five days in a row and with my body at 17, it is not easy, you know, to do that," she said after beating Williams. "And when I was playing against Amelie (Mauresmo), I was absolutely dead. I felt that, you know, I couldn't go on."

Girl, please. At 17 you ought to be able to play five matches in a day!

In reality, however, it's not often she gets to be a normal teenager. Not many of her peers have $1 million paydays like she had Monday. Nor do they have to worry about covering up the pimples on their forehead with a sun visor for an E! Entertainment TV interview. Nor do they have 40-year-old men with pot bellies shouting sweet nothings at them on the job. And most 17-year-olds don't spend 11 months of the year on the road working.

"I definitely think I am a bit more mature," she said. "I have been through a lot more in my life than many more 17-year-olds. And, I am not trying to say, you know, that I am mature or anything. But I do think that compared to many other girls who are 17, I do think I have been through more in life.

"I mean, after winning Wimbledon at 17, it is a bit of a struggle. There are a lot of things that emotion-wise, expectation-wise -- even though I love expectation -- I mean, I am still 17 years old. Give me a break. And I had to face a lot of it. I am just one girl in front of millions of people. And a lot of people are watching me, looking every second to what I am doing and wanting me to win and this and that. And I just had to realize it is not about winning, and it is not about losing. But it is about doing what you can, learning from your mistakes, trying to get better and most importantly working hard."

Yep, she's only 17 -- but growing.

Miki Turner covers the fusion between sports and entertainment for Page 3. She can be reached at dmiki@aol.com.