MELBOURNE, Australia -- Maria Sharapova has given more than $56,000 to those recovering from the Beslan school siege in her Russian homeland in September.

A Wimbledon champion, she yesterday donated the value of a Porsche -- her prize for winning the WTA Tour Championships in November -- to those affected by the hostage crisis. More than 330 people died, half of them children.

Sharapova presented the proceeds to the Russian ambassador to Australia, Leonid Moiseev, at a ceremony yesterday.

"Making this donation was the least that I could do to help the innocent victims in my country who were tragically affected by this senseless act," Sharapova said.

No thanks

When he was dating Kim Clijsters, Lleyton Hewitt was a fixture in the players' box for her matches.

Since they called off their engagement in October and broke up, Hewitt's interest in women's tennis vanished.

After beating Andy Roddick in yesterday's semifinal, Hewitt was asked what he planned to do today, his off day before facing Marat Safin for the title.

"Probably a 10K run, gym session," Hewitt said. "I won't be watching the women's final, that's for sure."

Good day, bad day

Scott Draper fared better on the tennis court yesterday than on the golf course.

Draper, a pro golfer and tennis player, shot a 7-over 79 yesterday morning in the first round of the Victorian Open in Melbourne. Draper, who qualified for his Australasian PGA tour card in December, is 13 shots behind the leaders.

Yesterday afternoon, Draper advanced to the Australian Open mixed doubles final when he and Samantha Stosur beat Andy Ram and Conchita Martinez, 7-5, 6-3.

Plagued by knee injuries from tennis, Draper turned to golf. In 2003, as his tennis career was starting to bloom again, his knee problems returned and he was again out.

Draper, playing in his first pro golf tournament, probably won't make the cut. He would have had a conflict tomorrow if he had a late tee-off and had to play the mixed doubles in the afternoon.

"I'm disappointed that I played as bad as I did," Draper said. "But it's probably a blessing in disguise."