Article Launched: 12/11/2005 12:00:00 AM Kournikova won't rule out return
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - 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.
While she has not closed the door to returning to the tour, she said only that it is a possibility, not that it will happen and not anytime soon.
I too would very much like to see her back --it would be very good for tennis. But the results in Rio were not encouraging, she was unable to play even two sets.
I did see tape of her play with Martina against Stauser and Raymond at that Smash Hits exhibition event and she played fairly well. But she was clearly out of shape compared to Hingis and slow to getting to balls.
She would have a lot of work to do to get back into the kind of shape she needs to be in to partner Hingis in doubles. They obviously still have great affection for each other and great chemistry, but there were several instances of miscommunication on hte court and Anna just has a lot of hard work to do to get back to playing shape.
You're not the only one! Anna's results in WTT doubles have been nothing to brag about in the past 2 years, despite playing alongside some good partners, and the competition in WTT is nothing like that on the real Tour. Martina can't be expected to play for two for very long.
But the main thing is, I don't see anything in this thread that looks anywhere close to convincing evidence that Anna is returning to the WTA; in fact, in Brazil so recently, she said she is NOT contemplating a return any time soon. Just another very misleading thread title. I'm no Anna fan, but I don't think it's fair to get her fans' hopes up this way.
It's funny to see how people interpret her statment that she makes every so often. She hasn't played since May of 2003 and I think she leaves the door open to appease sponsors.
It's funny to see how people interpret her statment that she makes every so often. She hasn't played since May of 2003 and I think she leaves the door open to appease sponsors.