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MADRID -- Monday at the Westin Palace Hotel here facing the Prado museum, eight gussied-up participants at the women's season-ending championship stood in phalanx for a photo op.
One player towered above the rest: Maria Sharapova.
The 4-inch stiletto heels helped. But when the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships conclude Sunday, the 19-year-old Russian could again stand a head above her peers.
She showed why Tuesday night, defeating a shaky-serving Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-4 to notch her 17th consecutive win.
"The first match is always difficult no matter how good you've been playing in the past or how good you feel," said No.2 Sharapova, who has gone undefeated since winning her second Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in September.
"She's playing like the No.1 for the moment," said No.7 Dementieva, who committed 15 double faults and lost seven of 13 service games but was the last player to beat Sharapova, in Los Angeles on Aug.12.
Where many players roll into the season finale fatigued and banged up from 11 months of globetrotting, Sharapova is fit, grooved and confident.
"It's amazing how well she's playing at the end of the season when most players are a little bit tired," Dementieva said.
"The most important thing is that I've been able to play matches and be healthy," Sharapova said Monday.
In addition to her title in New York, the Russian teen has captured indoor tournaments in Zurich and Linz, Austria, this fall, putting her in position to challenge for No.1 against Amelie Mauresmo of France and Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium.
Top-seeded Mauresmo's chances were damaged Tuesday when she lost 6-2, 6-2 to No.5 Nadia Petrova of Russia. Third-seeded Henin-Hardenne recovered from a 5-2 second-set lead to beat No.8 Martina Hingis 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1.
As with most breakthrough seasons, it has taken 2004 Wimbledon champ Sharapova time to find her still-growing feet. The Siberian-born, Florida-trained Russian wasn't ready to take the tour by the throat when she triumphed at this same event at Los Angeles that November. Mentally, she showed she was well on her way by staving off an injured and snarling Serena Williams in the final.
Physically, she wasn't there yet. Standing next to her rivals Monday, it was clear that is no longer the case.
Sharapova, at 6-2, has stopped growing, added muscle and upped her conditioning from a vigorous off-court training regimen. On the court, these changes have meant increased power off the ground, an improved serve and better court movement, which have made her a more dangerous and consistent performer.
All year, Sharapova has demonstrated the kind of day-in, day-out form that could make her the dominant player in 2007. She has reached the semifinals or better in 12 of 14 events.
"I definitely feel more consistent than I did, say, a year ago," she said. "I'm a more experienced player."
Sharapova must make at least the final to finish the year No.1. But she says that isn't her goal.
"Either way, No.1 or No.2 or No.3, I still think I've had a pretty good year," she said.
If she emerges with the title, it could be a springboard for bigger things. Roger Federer in 2003 and Mauresmo last year rode the momentum and confidence gained in year-end victories to multiple Grand Slam wins the following season.
"She looks very motivated," said Belgium's No.6 Kim Clijsters, winner of this event in 2002-03 and Sharapova's opponent today. "It's hard to look past her."
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