Maria Sharapova reminded us this week of why she is one of the most popular players in tennis.
The Today Show reported on a 10-year-old tennis player and cancer survivor named Sunny Logan, who used the sport to help her fight the deadly disease.
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Logan started playing when she was five and competing when she was eight. But earlier this year, Logan was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare cancer of the lymph nodes. She went to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for treatment.
Logan told The Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager that Sharapova was her favorite tennis player. During the show's report, we learn Logan went to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., a major tennis academy, after being declared cancer-free.
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She was there to hit some balls on the school's "Court of Champions," when she got a surprise visitor.
"We had been talking about [Sharapova] all day—she was on the Hall of Fame board, and they had pictures of her everywhere," Logan told The Today Show. "I was hitting some serves and then I turn around, and there she is. And I was just speechless. I did not know what to do."
"Is this Sunny?" Sharapova said when Logan saw her. "I heard there's this incredible tennis player playing on center court here. I'm Maria. It's very nice to meet you. Can I get a hug?"
Sharapova then stepped it up. "So, do you want to hit some balls with me?" she said.
The Today Show reported that the longer Sunny remains cancer-free, the better her chances of beating it.
As for Sharapova, the visit could be the next step of her maternal instincts taking over. Last week she said she wanted to learn to cook for her "future children."
Who is the most popular women's tennis player on the tour? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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