(Cover) - EN Star Style - Maria Sharapova has revealed Anna Wintour told her not to mess up the launch of her debut fashion line.

The 24-year-old tennis star, who is the highest-paid female athlete in the world, became the face for new sportswear clothing line Cole Haan, the Nike Inc. subsidiary, in 2008. The line, Cole Haan Sporting, was launched in 2009 and consisted of men's and women's footwear and accessories.

Maria says Anna, who is the editor of fashion bible American Vogue, gave her some words of wisdom before she ventured into the fashion world.

"Be careful'," she remembers her saying. "'If you end up failing, you won't have many more chances.'"

Maria is sponsored by sports giant Nike and has designed a range of products for the brand including shoes and mobile phones. It was a welcome change for the star, who was used to taking orders when it came to fashion.

"When I was younger, Nike would put me in the same clothes as maybe ten other girls in the tour," she told the International Herald Tribune. "We all looked like clones. I want to be different. If everyone is wearing black, I want to be wearing red." (C) Cover Media