Q&A;:ANNA KOURNIKOVA

Anna Kournikova may be more well-known for her beauty than her tennis prowess. But don’t mistake the 26-year-old as just a pretty face.

The Russian-born Kournikova won 16 doubles titles as a professional and won the women’s doubles title at the Australian Open in both 1999 and 2002, partnering with Martina Hingis each time.

Kournikova has been off the pro tour since 2003 but is in her fourth year playing with World Team Tennis’ Sacramento Capitals, who visit the Newport Beach Breakers tonight at 7 in the Breakers’ season opener. Kournikova recently took the time for a telephone conference call with reporters.

Question: When you were playing on the circuit, do you think that media and fans focused too much on the fact that you didn’t win a singles title rather than the things that you did accomplish?

Answer: You know, you can say yes and no to that. You know, it’s very hard to — it’s very hard to judge that, I think. It’s really something that I don’t think about it. I mean, they kind of had a point. But at the same time, it was, I don’t know. It’s not something that I’ve ever really thought about what they were focusing on. Obviously, they did focus on everything else, so I guess they had their reasons.

Q: You mentioned pressure earlier.

A: Yeah.

Q: Do you feel that you put too much pressure on yourself?

A: Yeah.

Q: Is that just part of your personality?

A: I am just, very O.C.D [obsessive compulsive disorder]. I’m too much of a perfectionist. So I think that I get disappointed. I used to get disappointed a lot when something didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. And that’s probably sometimes that hurt me, you know.

But I’m almost like too disciplined and too much of a perfectionist. You know, and it’s very important to understand that you will make mistakes sometimes, and you will make the wrong decisions, and the wrong moves, or, you know, make mistakes. And I think it’s very important to know that. And before I kind of took it really hard when I did make mistakes, or when, you know, certain things didn’t go my way. I think I took that pretty hard.

Q: I know this is going to be off the top of your head. But who are the top five tennis players that you enjoy watching today? And that would be either in person or on television.

A: Well, for me, it’s always going to be my two favorite players ever are Monica Seles and Andre Agassi. I mean, I know they’re not playing right now. But, for me, they are like the most amazing people ever…

Q: Is there a part of your game that you’re currently working on?

A: I’m just working on serving and volleying, and coming to the net as much as I can.

— Matt Szabo