Sharapova targets world No. 1 ranking

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) -- Maria Sharapova has the world number one spot in her sights following her surprise Wimbledon triumph.

The 17-year-old Russian upset defending champion Serena Williams 6-1 6-4 in Saturday's women's final, a result that means her projected WTA ranking is up seven places to eight.

"It's very important," said Sharapova. "I mean, Wimbledon was just my dream to win and now of course my goal is to be number one in the world."

The Siberian-born teenager started the year at number 32 but her impressive form, with successive grasscourt wins at Edgbaston and Wimbledon, has sent her soaring into the top 10 for the first time.

Such is Russia's strength in depth, however, that even ranked eight she is still behind French Open runner-up Elena Dementieva (six) and French Open champion Anastasia Myskina (four).

Sharapova, who was due to attend the traditional Champions Ball with the men's winner on Sunday, believes she has plenty of room for improvement despite her remarkable demolition of Serena.

"I think my opponents have always considered my forehand to be my weakness," she said. "That's what I've found out in matches through my whole career. But thanks to those opponents my forehand's getting a lot better."

"I still have to get stronger. I still have to develop a lot physically. These two weeks, obviously I made it, I won, but I've still got to prepare for playing two weeks."

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