Kournikova could be future of women's tennis
NEW YORK -- Anna Kournikova's eyes darted around the room. Her feet never
stayed still. She looked like a 15-year-old at her first school dance.
That appearance though, was a little deceiving, because the young Russian
already knows how to stomp through a draw. She became the only qualifier
remaining in the U.S. Open Saturday night when she upset 14th-seeded
Barbara Paulus 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Stadium Court.
Her Grand Slam debut could become truly memorable if Kournikova finds a way
to get through top-seeded Steffi Graf in the fourth round.
``I didn't expect her to be that good,'' said Paulus, who like many here is
getting her first look at this future star. ``She has nothing to lose and
she doesn't get worried when she makes a mistake. She doesn't take much
time in between points. She's always in a hurry. ''
Which doesn't make her much different than any other 15-year old.
Tennis is what separates Kournikova from other kids her age. It always has.
She left Moscow at the age of 9 and came to Bradenton, Fla., to work with
Nick Bollettieri, whose Tennis Academy has also produced Andre Agassi and
Monica Seles. Except for a very slight accent, she speaks like anybody else
who hangs out at the mall.
Kournikova ended 1995 as the International Tennis Federation's top- ranked
junior and turned pro last October. Earlier this year, Kournikova became
the youngest player to compete and win in Federation Cup play.
It might be a reach, but if Kournikova wins here in the next two years, she
will become the youngest winner of the U.S. Open. Tracy Austin was 16
years, 8 months and 28 days old when she won in 1979.
Kournikova has also won two WTA satellite events this year and is 23-8 as a
pro, which should raise more eyebrows then her presence this far into the
tournament.
``It's hard for me to say what people expect,'' Kournikova said. ``I don't
know what they think. I hope they're not going to be surprised. ''
She's also tired of hearing how she has nothing to lose.
``I have something to lose, my match,'' was her quick reply.
Kournikova says she hasn't modeled her game after any one player, and it
almost sounds like she's tripped ahead in time when she talks about
watching Graf and Seles on television as a youngster. Graf is just 27,
Seles 23.
``I didn't have any plan. I was just learning from the players, the top
players, Steffi and Monica,'' Kournikova said. ``I was watching them on TV.
It definitely was my dream to play Steffi.''
Kournikova ran off seven straight points starting in the second set, but
then dropped four straight. She was down 4-3, love-40 in the final set but
rallied, got the point and then broke Paulus to turn the match in her
favor.
``I think I was just really patient,'' she said. ``I was trying not to go
for big shots. I just kept the ball in play. When I saw a good one, I was
attacking.''
The 5-foot-6 Kournikova weighs just 110 pounds and has not yet developed
much power. She's known to be content to sit back and react. But she was
assertive when she had an opportunity to hit a big shot and displayed quite
an array of strokes.
Bollettieri calls his current star pupil a future top-10 player. Others
call her the future of women's tennis. That may be one thing Kournikova
hasn't yet grown into, but she doesn't have to roll up the sleeves too far
to make it fit.
There was, after all, a reason why she was the first featured match of the
night on the Stadium Court. Kournikova was put on display so more than
19,709 fans could say they saw her when.
``Well, it's great that they think that way,'' she said. ``We'll have to
wait and see what's going to happen.''
DOUGHERTY, MIKE, Kournikova could be future of women's tennis., Gannett
News Service, 09-01-1996, pp S09.
