Kournikova shines on Newport

Natalie Venegas

Tennis beauty Anna Kournikova arrived in Newport Beach on Thursday at

Palisades Tennis Club for her debut as a member of the Sacramento

Capitols.

Among those waiting to catch a glimpse was Laguna Niguel resident

Mike Wolivar.

“I came for my daughter,” he said. “It’s good to show her what

hard work can bring. And she’s also somebody a dad and a daughter can

see.”

At a press conference held before her match against the Newport

Beach Breakers, Kournikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion in doubles

along with Martina Hingis, shared her excitement in the transition

from touring professionally to being a part of World Team Tennis.

“I absolutely love it,” she said. “It’s great for the fans because

they get to see singles, men’s, women’s, and doubles. In three hours

they get to see everything.”

Kathy Abele, a Breaker volunteer in charge of directing the

fired-up crowds, explained how the visits from professional athletes

appeals to the fans.

“There’s a big change,” she said. “We get a lot more press, and

it’s great.”

Another volunteer, Ann Bown, said the advantage of having big

names competing is that fans come to see their favorite player, but

end up watching the talent surrounding them, and get hooked.

“Anything to get more people out here is good,” she said. “We get

way bigger crowds, and it’s good for the sport in general.”

Despite no longer touring professionally, Kournikova manages to

keep her plate full while still attracting attention from the media.

Some of Kournikova’s current projects include a fitness column

featured in Elle Magazine, competing in the WTT, volunteering for the

Boys and Girls Club, and charity exhibition matches, while still

working out everyday.

Along with the attention she receives from the tennis courts and

entertainment world, comes what stars in the limelight must

inevitably face. Criticism.

“I’ve learned to not really pay attention to people,” she said.

“They’re going to think whatever they want to think anyway. The most

important thing is that I know what I have accomplished and achieved

for myself.”

Some of her achievements include defeating No. 1 ranked Steffi

Graf, Monica Seles, Lindsey Davenport, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and

her doubles partner, Hingis.

In 2000, she was ranked eighth in singles and reached a final,

eight semifinals and seven quarterfinals in 26 World Tennis

Association tournaments.

Although Kournikova keeps herself occupied, there are times when

she thirsts for the competitiveness in touring.

“I definitely miss the adrenaline and the competitive side,” she

said. “It’s kind of nice not traveling three months in a row, but of

course I miss it.”

Kournikova joined the Capitols after competing for two years with

the Kansas City Explorers.