Maria Sharapova is criticizing the WTA Tour for threatening to fine her more than $300,000 if she doesn't take part in a promotional photo session ahead of the Italian Open in Rome on May 12.

"They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Internazionali BNL Italia tourney after flying 12 hours from L.A.," the Australian Open champion said in a statement posted on her Web site on Friday.

"I have set my own personal rules when it comes to doing shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis."

Maria Sharapova's preparations for the second grand slam of the season have been further derailed as the Russian star was forced to withdraw from next week's German Open through injury.

Sharapova began 2008 in stunning form as she took the Australian Open title, but injuries have taken their toll in recent weeks and she has not played since losing to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of Family Circle Cup on April 19.

Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova will represent Russia in the women's singles at the Beijing Olympics, the country's federation chief Shamil Tarpishchev said Monday.

"We can send four single players and two doubles to Beijing," Tarpishchev told the press. "Sharapova and Kuznetsova will definitely play in the women's tournament, while the other girls will fight it out for the two remaining places."

Three times Grand Slam tournament winner Sharapova is set to become one of the biggest names competing in Beijing and is certain to attract huge media attention.

The fashion and entertainment elite came out to celebrate Maria Sharapova’s 21st birthday last night at a party hosted by luxury watch brand TAG Heuer.
The invitation-only event for the three-time Grand Slam winner drew several celebrities including Michelle Trachtenberg and Dave Annable. Vogue’s Anna Wintour also made an appearance at the party, along with designers Vera Wang, Doo.Ri and Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian.

TAG Heuer President and CEO Ulrich Wohn welcomed Sharapova's friends and family and toasted the 21 year-old before presenting her with an elegant white and pink eight-tier cake.

Russia's Maria Sharapova climbed to the third spot in the WTA women's tennis rankings released Monday.

Maria gained 110 points in Charleston and has a total of 3986 points and is closing the gap on #2 as she is only 171 points behind Ana Ivanovic.  This is Maria's highest ranking of the year.

WTA top 10 as of April 21 (previous ranking in brackets):

1. (1) Justine Henin, Belgium, 6,105; 2. (2) Ana Ivanovic, Serbia, 4,157; 3. (4) Maria Sharapova, Russia, 3,986; 4. (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 3,905; 5. (5) Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, 3,775; 6. (9) Serena Williams (USA) 2,726; 7. (6) Anna Chakvetadze, Russia, 2,665; 8. (7) Venus Williams, United States, 2,586; 9. (8) Elena Dementieva 2,440; 10. (10) Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, 2,257.