ACURA CLASSIC: FROM RUSSIA, WITH GAME TENNIS IMPORTS MAKE THEMSELVES AT HOME ON TOUR.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

CARLSBAD - Russian Anastasia Myskina made history when she became the first woman from her country to win a Grand Slam at the French Open in June.

Maria Sharapova followed with a win at Wimbledon and Russia now owns the two most recent Grand Slam titles.

Myskina and Sharapova will meet in the quarterfinals of the Acura Classic, San Diego's Tier I event, on Friday provided both advance.

The players are a boon for tennis with Nos. 1 and 2, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, out because of injuries and with the Williams sisters struggling to regain their old form.

Sharapova, six years younger, has accepted the fanfare with more ease than Myskina.

Myskina grieves for her home country each time she leaves. Sharapova has hardly looked back since she left nearly 10 years ago.

The day after Wimbledon, Sharapova hit the talk-show circuit in New York.

`` I really liked Regis and Kelly,'' Sharapova said. ``Regis was very fun. TRL (on MTV) was also very fun.''

After the French, Myskina kept her homecoming small.

``I didn't want to tell many people when I was coming home or there would have been a big crowd,'' Myskina said.

Sharapova, 17, has lived in Florida since she moved from Siberia to the U.S. when she was age 7. She's under contract with IMG and Nike, her blonde hair and blue eyes inspiring comparisons to another blonde-haired, blue-eyed tennis player from Russia, Anna Kournikova, only with a better game.

She prefers the American lifestyle and has lived it since the big win.

``A lot of restaurants I've been going to it's been really easy to get into,'' Sharapova said. ``I've been going on shopping sprees. People are giving me things. Some of this stuff I don't really need them, but fine give them to me. I went to Donna Karan, I got a shopping spree at Donna Karan. I went to Coach, I got a shopping spree at Coach.''

Still, she maintains the tennis is her top focus and her confidence, never short, remains healthy.

``I knew what it took to win at Wimbledon and I'm going to keep working hard and just try to achieve more and more,'' Sharapova said.

At 23 years old, Myskina has been on tour for eight years and has finished inside the top 15 the last two. Each time she goes she is loathe to leave Russia.

``I feel like I'm really becoming homesick,'' Myskina said. ``I don't want to leave home. I'm here for four days but I want to go home already. "

She misses friends and family and is eager to being a life without tennis.

``I want to do something else,'' Myskina said. ``You have to find (for) yourself different things.''

Because of Myskina's reluctance to remain in the sport, Sharapova may have more staying power, especially in her adopted home, the U.S. Ticket demand for today's night session, which features Sharapova, rose when it was announced she was the main attraction.

``Maria is more popular in the U.S.,'' Myskina said. ``That's for sure. Maria lives in the U.S., she's spent most of her time here.''

--Moving on: Vera Zvonareva, the No. 12 seed, reached the second round with a 6-4, 7-6(7-5) victory over France's Nathalie Dechy on a quiet Monday.

Two other seeded players weren't as lucky. No. 13 Patty Schnyder lost to 19-year old American Ashley Harkleroad 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Elena Bovina upset No. 15 Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Four big names have first- or second-round matches today, depending on their seed. No. 1 Serena Williams, No. 3 Myskina and No. 11 Venus Williams play the day session and No. 6 Sharapova plays at 7 p.m.

Venus retired with a right wrist injury during her semifinal match against Lindsay Davenport at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson on Saturday. She reportedly had the wrist examined in Carlsbad on Monday. She intends to play today, according to WTA tour officials.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Ashley Harkleroad gestures to an umpire during the first round of the Acura Tennis Classic in Carlsbad on Monday.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Box:

THE ACURA CLASSIC