Wimbledon 2014: Maria Sharapova arrives at Pre-Wimbledon party in £700,000 Porsche, driven by Le Mans driver Mark Webber

Both were competing in France earlier this month but caused a stir in west London as they hit the red carpet in style

One conquered France earlier this month, the other came very close to doing the same. But on Thursday evening, Maria Sharapova rocked up to the pre-Wimbledon launch party in a £700,000, driven by chauffeur for the night Mark Webber.

The Number Five ranked tennis star Sharapova clinched her fourth Grand Slam after beating Simona Halep in the final of the French Open, and she heads to Wimbledon with all the momentum she could wish for as she looks to claim her second title at SW19 10 years after her first.

The Russian knows how to make an entrance, as she demonstrated posing in front of the Eiffel Tower following her victory at Roland Garros, but Sharapova raced into London ahead on Monday’s action at the All-England Tennis Club.

Arriving at the Pre-Wimbledon party held at the Kensington Roof Gardens in a top of the range Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid, onlookers were left stunned firstly by Sharapova’s entrance, and then by ex-Formula 1 driver Mark Webber emerging from the driver’s seat.

Webber took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours last weekend as Porsche made its return to the LMP1 category, and the Number 20 car of Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard were locked in an intense battle with the eventual race-winning Audi when engine troubles ended their race just two hours from home.

Former Wimbledon junior champion Laura Robson was another spotted on the red carpet, although the 20-year-old will miss this year’s tournament as she continues to recover from wrist surgery that kept her out of the French Open.

With action getting underway on Monday, Andy Murray will begin his defence of his Wimbledon crown against Belgian David Goffin. The Briton is seeded third for the tournament, but could meet Novak Djokovic in the semi-final if both progress to the last-four.