...Obvious suggestions
that a movie career for Kournikova and the other kids are commenplace.
But the young Russian, who yesterday trounced Sweden's Asa Carlsson 6-0,
6-0, is trying to maintain, not very convincingly, that all she is interested
in is playing tennis.
It was Andre Agassi who patented the statement that 'Image Is Everything'.
But Kournikova , who has lived in the United States since she was nine
and recently relocated to the ultra-trendy South Beach in Miami, has taken
the whole thing a step further. Every where she goes she attracts a crowd.
Her practice sessions are surrounded by vast throngs of fans, varying in
age
of more than
half a century.
She is becoming something of a veteran on the sofas of the American chat
show hosts like David Letterman and Jay Leno. And the Spice Girls
had their picture taken with her, although they insist everyone sat down
because Kournikova's statuesque 5ft 8ins makes them look squat.
Only last weekend, she publicly flirted with Britain's Henman at a specially
staged Adidas media event. She was asked: "Anna, what are the good things
about being a tennis player going around the world?" With a coy smile she
responded: "Being here in Paris and sitting next to somebody like Tim."
And the Kournikova view of her public profile is often conflicting. One
moment she declares: "I am just a normal person, trying to benormal. There
are good things about all the attention I get and there are bad things,
but I cannot change it. I'm just trying to concentrate on playing tennis
and nothing else."
On another day she announces: "I'm asked why do I have to look good on
court? Why not just play? But I say it's human nature for people to notice.
To me, whenever I am on court, it is like a theatre and I have to express
myself. Why should I have to look ugly just because I am an athlete?"
.....
The hIT girls,
Barry Flatman, The Express, Saturday May 30, 1998