Anna Kournikova obviously feels that she does not need much practice ahead of her showcase first-round clash with sixth seed Justine Henin.
Despite missing most of last year through injury, she refused the chance to play an exhibition match in Sydney on Friday night.
The Russian was due to take to the court in the doubles final but partner Martina Hingis withdrew at the last minute with heat exhaustion.
Lleyton treads carefully in the Rod Laver Arena
Organisers hoped Kournikova would instead take on Australian player Bryanne Stewart in an exhibition match to entertain the crowd, many of whom had paid up to A$27 a head for their tickets.
But Kournikova refused to play, saying that her opponent was not a good enough standard of opposition for her.
A bold statement from a player who has only won a handful of matches in the last 12 months.
The link is below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/tennis/australian_open/newsid_1759000/1759842.stm
If she'd just refused that's fine, but it's statements like the one saying Bryanne wasn't good enough that have earned Anna a well deserved rep for being a B*tch at times.
Despite missing most of last year through injury, she refused the chance to play an exhibition match in Sydney on Friday night.
The Russian was due to take to the court in the doubles final but partner Martina Hingis withdrew at the last minute with heat exhaustion.
Lleyton treads carefully in the Rod Laver Arena
Organisers hoped Kournikova would instead take on Australian player Bryanne Stewart in an exhibition match to entertain the crowd, many of whom had paid up to A$27 a head for their tickets.
But Kournikova refused to play, saying that her opponent was not a good enough standard of opposition for her.
A bold statement from a player who has only won a handful of matches in the last 12 months.
The link is below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/tennis/australian_open/newsid_1759000/1759842.stm
If she'd just refused that's fine, but it's statements like the one saying Bryanne wasn't good enough that have earned Anna a well deserved rep for being a B*tch at times.