McIntyre Tennis

Kournikova Hits Former President Bush in Back With Tennis Ball

I shouldn't, I know - but I can't stop laughing at this one.

From Tennis Week: Evert's Event Entertains Crowd

But it was Kournikova who surely was hoping for a stiff drink on the final day of play at the Evert Pro Celebrity Classic. After Evert pulled former President Bush up to a 3-1 lead over Lindsay Davenport and Jon Lovitz, she announced that a special surprise substitution would be made. Evert would "rest" as Anna Kournikova came in to play with the former Commander-in-Chief. Well, that was an exciting twist of dynamics for an already marquee match up. But in only her second point on court, Kournikova beaned the 41st President of the United States right in the backside with her first serve. 

Kournikova and Hingis, Together Again?

This seals it, my Hingis Hatred can finally be put to rest. I'm really starting to love the girl. Apparently Kournikova suggested renewing their doubles partnership after the two played an exhibition in December and Hingis basically smacked a bitch down: "She was okay," said the Swiss. "But she would have to train. I don't want to go out there and lose first round."

Hingis, speaking truth to peroxide. (C'mon, Anna fans! It's all in good fun.)

I saw Hingis and Kournikova play an exhibition doubles match in NYC a few years back, in Madison Square Garden (2001, I think?), and well, that was a lot of ego out there. Of course, It Would be Great For Tennis if Anna returned, and I honestly think it would be fun to see them out there again, complete with their old Queen Bee MO.

Read 'Hingis Urges Kournikova to Think Hard about a Comeback'

Anna Kournikova Reads, Talks to Sports Illustrated Fully Dressed

Is she still the same woman who famously once said, "I'm like an expensive menu... you can look but you can't afford!" You decide.

"I read like crazy," she says, becoming visibly excited. "Magazines, short stories, books -- especially when I'm on an airplane or the treadmill or the exercise bike. Lately I've been into summer chick-lit, lighthearted stuff. And I'm into all kinds of magazines, from Vogue to O to Good Housekeeping."

Read "Older, Wiser Anna"

Kournikova Still in the Spotlight

When will it stop?  (just joking, Anna fans...) There's been gossip about her weight loss recently as well as coverage of her World Team Tennis participation. I always forget that Kournikova (News/Posts) never won a singles title. Has anything even approaching this level of off topic adulation happened with any other athlete? Doubtful.

Read 'Tawdry tabloids, and a little tennis, too.'

Kournikova Q & A

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Kournikova: 'I don't regret a thing that happened'

Q: Has the [tabloid] media ever gotten anything right about you?

A: Some things. And sometimes their criticism was right, too. I'm not perfect. I'm sure I've made mistakes...

Kournikova Criticized for Being Too Thin

From The Daily Record: From Grand Slam to...Grand Slim

FORMER tennis star Anna Kournikova stunned onlookers at a celebrity party with her new super-slender look.

The super-fit athlete who once put the bounce into world tennis with her curves looks to be following Hollywood's "lollipop lady" trend.

Kournikova, Austin, Bryans Play Memphis Doubles Exhibition

"Can we turn that thing off?''

-- Former U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin, referring to the radar device measuring the speed of her serves (about 70-plus mph) during her mixed doubles exhibition match Monday night featuring Anna Kournikova and the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, who serve in the 120s.  (from The Commercial Appeal)

Three thoughts:

1) At this rate, the Bryan twins may now spend more time promoting doubles than playing it. 

2) Does Anna Kournikova ever go off script?  She says almost exactly the same thing in every interview she does.  Or perhaps I should blame the journalists for always asking the same obvious questions. 

3) How hard did the players have to work to make this match come out 7-6, 7-6?  Now that's full entertainment for your exhibition dollar.

From The Commercial Appeal: Anna's altruism

In the mixed doubles exhibition match Monday before the night session, Anna Kournikova and Bob Bryan defeated Tracy Austin and Mike Bryan, Bob's twin, 7-6, 7-6.

Proceeds from the exhibition, which required a separate ticket for admission, will benefit one of three organizations: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the Katrina Relief Fund.

Sharapova, Kournikova Make World's Most Desirable Women List

From the Moscow News: Sharapova Named One of World's Most Desirable Women

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has been called one of world’s most desirable women according to the annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women list issued by the AskMen website...

Kournikova Sure Makes Interesting News These Days

From Contact Music: Enrique Iglesias performed for Gadaffi's sons

Latino singer ENRIQUE IGLESIAS performed at the New Year's Eve (31DEC05) party thrown by the sons of Libyan leader Colonel MUAMMAR GADDAFI on the Caribbean island of St Barts.

The HERO heart-throb reportedly agreed to sing for guests of SAADI and MUTASSIM at the Nikki Beach club, after his girlfriend ANNA KOURNIKOVA befriended the brothers at the Venice Film Festival in September (05).

A representative for Iglesias confirms to the New York Daily News he performed "at a private function".

But Iglesias, who was reportedly paid a six-figure sum for his appearance, was reluctant to socialise after his set.

An insider at the event tells the newspaper, "Enrique wouldn't come out of his VIP area."

Kournikova Says She Could Return

I don't know if Anna Kournikova continues to talk about the possibility of a comeback because she thinks it adds to her legitimacy as an athlete rather than just a model these days (and therefore her marketability), or if she really hasn't let go yet.

From the AP: Kournikova says comeback 'not out of the question'

Anna Kournikova left open the possibility of a return to professional tennis.

The 24-year-old Russian, who hasn't played professionally since 2003 because of back problems, said she doesn't have any plans to return to the WTA Tour any time soon, but added that "the possibility is not completely out of the question."

Kournikova made the comments in Brazil ahead of Saturday night's match against Martina Hingis on a court set up on Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach.