No Maria for Breakers

Tonight’s World TeamTennis match between the Newport Beach Breakers

and Kansas City Explorers might be better known as the match that

could have been.

What could have been: Maria Sharapova vs. Anna Kournikova.

What’s instead? Nadia Petrova has replaced the Breakers’

Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion, when Newport Beach will host

Kansas City, which will be without Kournikova, tonight at 7 at

Palisades Tennis Club. The Breakers defeated St. Louis on the road

Friday, 24-21.

Petrova is ranked No. 8 in doubles and has been as high as No. 6

this year in singles.

Sharapova, who defeated Serena Williams to claim her first grand

slam title at Wimbledon July 3, was originally scheduled for two home

dates, but canceled tonight’s match.