Kournikova takes French Open spotlight
(c) 1997 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1997 Agence France-Presse
PARIS (May 29, 1997 - 16:02 EST) - Russia's 15-year-old Anna Kournikova continued to bask in
the media spotlight at the French Open Thursday as America's Venus Williams packed her bags and
headed for the nearest exit.
While the 16-year-old Williams was sent packing in a three-set second-round marathon by Nathalie
Tauziat of France -- Kournikova made no mistakes defeating the experienced Sandra Cecchini of
Italy 6-2, 6-2.
The Russian, who is being groomed for future stardom and cast as one of the top challengers for
Martina Hingis' world number-one status next century, now gets another chance to test her tennis for
the first time at senior level against the top-seeded Swiss player when the two face each other for a
place in the last sixteen on Saturday.
Kournikova, who reached the fourth-round in her first Grand Slam tournament at the United States
last year but who went out at the first hurdle at this year's Australian Open, was clearly unruffled by
questions about the 6-0, 6-0 defeat Hingis inflicted on her in the second-round of the junior event at
the United States Open a couple of years ago.
"That score doesn't say anything about that match," she said.
"It was actually a good match. Whoever saw it would tell you so. I played very well -- it was just
that Martina won all of the important points."
"It's different now. It's not juniors any more," said Kournikova, who has learned her tennis at the
Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.
Hingis showed her lack of matchplay on Thursday when she was given the fright of her life in her
second match at the event by Italian Gloria Pizzichini. She came back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 but was
clearly rusty after her seven week lay-off for a knee operation after being thrown from a friend's
horse in April.
"Obviously she has had a not too good injury and she had to play three sets today. Her
concentration may not have been too good. But you can never say what's going to happen. I can
only try my best when we play," said Kournikova.
"But tennis is only a game, you know. It's a game -- and anyone can win."
Kournikova said she never worried about other people's games.
"What is there for me to worry about?" she said.
"I cannot do anything about other people's games. I can only do something about my own."
