Sharapova's new love?

The professional tennis circuit is abuzz with reports of a love match between women's world No.1 Maria Sharapova and US Open men's winner Andy Roddick.

But Roddick, 22, ranked fourth in the world and renowned as having hit the fastest serve ever timed, said their friendship was platonic when he made an unexpected appearance at a promotion for a new fragrance endorsed by the Russian blonde with the shrill on-court cry.

Sharapova, 18, is the highest-paid female athlete in the world with annual earnings of $25 million, only 15 per cent of which comes from tournament prizemoney.

Sources close to the couple claim the rumour to be true, the New York Post reported.

"They are together," one close source said.

Maria, 18, who was last week linked to Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, has jokingly denied seeing Roddick.

"I'm 'known' to be dating three guys. I guess I'm just a cheater.

"What can I say?" she joked.

Sharapova will lose her No.1 ranking this week to Lindsay Davenport, who won the pre-US Open Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Connecticut.