Rain swamps Kournikova appearance-She hangs out. <br /> <br />Posted at Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 22:51
Intermittent rain, the promoter's nightmare, swamped the first night of the MTN Challenge exhibition match between Anna Kournikova and South Africa's No 1 Amanda Coetzer at Westridge Park in Durban on Thursday night.<br />Such was the lure of Kournikova's glamour, the crowds were streaming in under wet umbrellas with the hope that the rain would abate after word got out that the final deadline for the start would be 9.30pm.
Ninety minutes before the deadline, the rain had really set in and the organisers called it a day and postponed the match to 12.30pm on Friday, which, considering the Durban weather at this time of the year, would have been the best idea in the first place.
Dampened spirits were lifted when Kournikova and Coetzer met a large crowd of diehard fans and signed autographs around the court beneath a wall of umbrellas.
On the way out, Kournikova, who was in a high spirits despite the rain, turned her entourage and said: "Right, where's the party?
The Russian beauty, who is rumoured to be the next "Bond Girl", arrived in Durban from game drives on a private reserve fringing the Kruger Park, said she didn't want to leave her "safari".
"I don't want t leave (on Sunday)," she said. "I want to go back on safari. I love this place.<br />Thats exactly what she has been doing all week.<br />Yesterday the blonde beauty, took out a day of practice to hang out with opponent and great friend "Amanda Coetzer", <br />Coetzer, Kournikova, and Mcniel have been hanging out together all week, parties, safaries, and long talks the girls have been having great times.<br />Anna Said "I will never forget this experience as long as I live!<br />Coetzer and Kournikova, said to be the most popular players in South Africa, ever, aren't here just about the money.<br />Amanda and Anna have been giving autographs all week, the #1 RSA player, Amanda Coetzer said "I am not here for myself but for fans who have supported me and tennis throughout the years" Everytime I go on the court I just want to sign autographs and give hugs!<br />So on Friday two idols of tennis and great friends go at it.<br />Anna says "On the court you forget everything an I'm just going to play my heart out!
Intermittent rain, the promoter's nightmare, swamped the first night of the MTN Challenge exhibition match between Anna Kournikova and South Africa's No 1 Amanda Coetzer at Westridge Park in Durban on Thursday night.<br />Such was the lure of Kournikova's glamour, the crowds were streaming in under wet umbrellas with the hope that the rain would abate after word got out that the final deadline for the start would be 9.30pm.
Ninety minutes before the deadline, the rain had really set in and the organisers called it a day and postponed the match to 12.30pm on Friday, which, considering the Durban weather at this time of the year, would have been the best idea in the first place.
Dampened spirits were lifted when Kournikova and Coetzer met a large crowd of diehard fans and signed autographs around the court beneath a wall of umbrellas.
On the way out, Kournikova, who was in a high spirits despite the rain, turned her entourage and said: "Right, where's the party?
The Russian beauty, who is rumoured to be the next "Bond Girl", arrived in Durban from game drives on a private reserve fringing the Kruger Park, said she didn't want to leave her "safari".
"I don't want t leave (on Sunday)," she said. "I want to go back on safari. I love this place.<br />Thats exactly what she has been doing all week.<br />Yesterday the blonde beauty, took out a day of practice to hang out with opponent and great friend "Amanda Coetzer", <br />Coetzer, Kournikova, and Mcniel have been hanging out together all week, parties, safaries, and long talks the girls have been having great times.<br />Anna Said "I will never forget this experience as long as I live!<br />Coetzer and Kournikova, said to be the most popular players in South Africa, ever, aren't here just about the money.<br />Amanda and Anna have been giving autographs all week, the #1 RSA player, Amanda Coetzer said "I am not here for myself but for fans who have supported me and tennis throughout the years" Everytime I go on the court I just want to sign autographs and give hugs!<br />So on Friday two idols of tennis and great friends go at it.<br />Anna says "On the court you forget everything an I'm just going to play my heart out!