### Clue: Former champion has confused an artist with a river, Virginia". (9)
### Answer: SHARAPOVA 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Former champion
  Anagram(*confused*) of *HAS* + RA(practising *artist* who is a member of the Royal Academy, ie. a $$R$$oyal $$A$$cademician) + PO(*river* in northern Italy running from the Alps to the Adriatic) + VA(code for the state of *Virginia*, USA). 
Defn:  Maria, Russian tennis player, 2004 Wimbledon singles *champion*, seeded 5th in this year's Wimbledon women's singles, through to the quarter-finals.