She’s got the look

NEWPORT BEACH — From all angles, photographers took quality shots of Anna Kournikova on the court Wednesday.

Kournikova didn’t with her racquet in her World Team Tennis debut for 2008.

Blame it on rust, being unfamiliar with her St. Louis Aces teammates, and a late arrival to Newport Beach for the Breakers easily winning, 23-14.

“It was of course a little sad because we lost,” Kournikova said. “It’s always hard to play the first match. I never met my teammates before. It was a new experience.”

Maybe on the court it was for Kournikova, but not off it.

Before she swung the racquet at Newport Beach Country Club, close to a dozen cameras focused on the chair where Kournikova would sit in.

The arrival time for the Russian beauty at the pre-match press conference was in 10 minutes. Cameras still flashed at a crazy rate.

Kournikova was the target. The zooming in of her started once the 27-year-old entered the media tent.

Photographers outnumbered reporters, 12-2, so Kournikova heard the camera shutter more than questions during the press conference.

Check the Internet. One of the most downloaded females must have new photos up.

If you want some of her sitting through a 10-minute session, or of her making her way onto the court, the cameras caught Kournikova’s every move. The bad shots, too.

There were quite a few showing how far Kournikova’s game has dropped since last playing on the Women’s Tennis Assn. Tour in 2003. Fans forgave her, though.

In the women’s doubles event, Kournikova and her partner, Jasmin Woehr, fared poorly. They lost, 5-1, to Michaela Pastikova and Lilia Osterloh.

Maybe Kournikova needed more rest. She said she arrived late into town, around 2 a.m. Wednesday, due to her flight being delayed.

Kournikova’s swing was also late, more than once.

Things began to spiral out of control once Kournikova’s return of Pastikova’s serve dribbled toward the net rather than go over it. Still, a fan yelled, “Anna, you’re still beautiful!”

To the photographers, the 5-foot-8, 120-pound blonde definitely is attractive.

Unfortunately for tennis purists, Kournikova’s game doesn’t match her looks.

In her two doubles appearances, Kournikova looked nothing like the player who won the Australian Open doubles championship in 1999 and 2000.

At one point in the evening’s last event, mixed doubles, Kournikova whiffed on an easy winner. Osterloh offered it up high, but it went over Kournikova’s racquet.

Practically everyone still around laughed. Kournikova smiled. She wore it even after she and Travis Rettenmaier lost, 5-3, putting end to the match.

In the background, Kournikova heard a familiar song, “Hero.” Her longtime boyfriend Enrique Iglesias sings the song.

That must have cheered her up. And you bet the cameras were present to capture the moment.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.