Russian tennis beauty Maria Sharapova added romantic gossip to the supporters' section for Serbia's Novak Djokovic in this year's US Open final.

“Let's not go too much with Maria,” Djokovic said. “It's just a friendship we have.”

Djokovic, known for his joking impersonations of Sharapova and other tennis players, bumped into her during a Fashion Week event ongoing in New York.
Asked what Sharapova thought of his impersonation, complete with exaggerated moves like smoothing hair, Djokovic joked, “She said she's going to kill me.

     20-year-old Djokovic, who has a girl friend, struck up a friendship with Sharapova and invited her to join his parents in their seating section. “It was nice for her to come and support me. As well Robert,” Djokovic said. “It's an amazing feeling to see such successful people in my box supporting me, playing with me I can say, living every emotional moment. It's great.”

Djokovic was among several players invited to De Niro's Japanese restaurant and met the movie star and his tennis-fan wife there. “He's a great person,” Djokovic said. “I'm really happy they showed up and supported me.”

Djokovic became a hit with New York crowds for his personality and his impressions were a YouTube favorite.

“I'm really glad for my success on and off the court,” Djokovic said. – AFP

     New York post:

     JUST 'FRIENDS'

     September 11, 2007 -- U.S. Open runner-up Novak Djokovic insisted in a post-game interview that he and Maria Sharapova are only friends, after she was spotted cheering for him in his box at Arthur Ashe Stadium. But The Post's Braden Keil reports that the two showed up together that night at Wakiya in the Gramercy Park Hotel. They mostly missed the opening-night party for the chic Chinese eatery and such celebs as Robert De Niro, Simon Le Bon, Donna Karan, Jeremy Piven, Beth Rudin DeWoody and Nobu Matsuhisa. But Djokovic and Sharapova then went to the lounge above Downtown Cipriani, where they sang karaoke duets until 5 a.m. to tennis pros Heinz Haas and Tim LoBello and models Ana Beatriz and Elsa Benitez.

From the interview on usopen.org Novak Djokovic, September 9, 2007

 Q. Maria Sharapova was in your box and also Robert De Niro. What are those two relationships with you? Somebody had to ask.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I was expecting that question on the first place (laughter).

No, let's not go too much with Maria. It's just a friendship we have. It was nice from her to come and support me. As well, Robert, he was yesterday on the match, and today.

          Maria Sharapova Gallery