ANNA STARTS COMPANY, PLAYs EXOS

Kournikova continues to stray from her game
Tanner teaches in between legal troubles

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Gillette

Anna's game plan includes a new company – akseven – and endorsements.

Anna Kournikova’s decision to form her own company – akseven – and her decision to sign with Lisa Jacobson of United Talent Agency (UTA) could be a sure sign that she’ll never attempt a comeback to the WTA Tour.

On Wednesday, Kournikova announced that she has named Wendy Revak to be president of her newly formed company. She also signed with UTA to represent her all non-tennis marketing, entertainment and endorsement related ventures. UTA's clients include Keira Knightley, Gwen Stefani, Christy Turlington, and Mary Kate & Ashley, among others. Kournikova says she will continue to be represented by Octagon for all on-court activities.

Due to what she’s says is a chronically bad back, the 23-year-old hasn’t played a regular tournament since April 2003, but her exo schedule is pretty full. On Monday, she’ll play mixed dubs with Andre Agassi at the World TeamTennis Smash Hits against Andy Roddick (word has it that his sore elbow is better) and always young-looking Tracy Austin in Irvine. Kournikova will also play in the Williamses’ December exos.

On Thursday night, Kournikova and John McEnroe made cameos on “The Apprentice 2.” Here’s the spin: Show participant Raj was pursuing his dream to ask Anna out, whom he called "an epic beauty." Anna said that if Raj could return one of her five serves, she would go out with him; otherwise, he would have to perform a dare. Raj accepted the challenge – but couldn't return a single serve from a woman who routinely spins in his second serves in the 70s. As payment for his loss, Raj had to jog around the entire stadium wearing only his boxers. McEnroe, Kournikova and the rest of “Mosaic” team fired tennis balls at Raj, who apparently avoided a jarring hit. … You can put serious money down that the seriously competitive Austin will return more than few of Kournikova’ serves at Irvine.

NBC

Kournikova' serve looked big to the apprentices.

According to one promoter, dealing with Kournikova has become much more difficult now that three different parties are involved. Of course, what’s must be really difficult is for Kournikova to wake up every morning knowing that she’s wasting her talent in a sport she was born and bred to play. Props to her as a businesswoman, but thumbs down for her effort level during the past year. One Slam semifinal given how good she was when she was putting in 100 percent is flat-out embarrassing. The same goes for her old doubles partner, Martina Hingis, who certainly could attempt a comeback. Bad back Anna? Bad feet Martina? Look at the 28-year-old Lindsay Davenport, still pushing at No. 1 with two bad knees.

Tanner teaches in between legal troubles
Just before the US Open, we heard that former star Roscoe Tanner was getting his life back on track, as he was hired as the new head pro for the three Spearman Clubs in Orange County, California - Laguna Nigel, RCI and Monarch. A few days later, the one-time Aussie Open champ was arrested in a SoCal doughnut shop for failing to appear at an Aug. 6 court date in New Jersey that dealt with his failure to play child support.

A few weeks ago, Tanner was sentenced to a year of probation for failure to pay child support for a daughter he fathered with a former New Jersey woman, Omega Anne Romano. At the time, the 52-year-old Tanner only owed about $1,000 of an original $82,400 he promised to pay her and told the judge he would make good on it.

The good-natured if not irresponsible Tanner is giving lessons and private clinics at all three of the SoCal clubs and is the featured attraction at the club’s Challenge Court, where members can put their best against the pros. Club owner Cecil Spearman was introduced to the 1979 Wimbledon finalist by club member Robert Johnson, Tanner’s attorney.

Ironically, Tanner was looking for a job in Orange County to be close to two of his six daughters. “I've had more favorable reviews and marvelous comments about Roscoe since he’s been here than I’ve ever had about any other pro,” Spearman said. “He’s a wonderful guy who the members immediately took to. … He’s so easy to get a long with and talk to.” Tanner was sentenced to 10 years probation last November in Florida for bouncing a $35,595 check he used to buy a boat.

Siggi Bucher

Amelie Mauresmo battles in Filderstadt to maintain her No. 1 ranking.

Battle for No. 1: Step Up Time
for Mauresmo
The WTA gave a nice No. 1 trophy to Amelie Mauresmo, who’s not thrilled by the criticism she’s received for gaining the spot. First, it’s not her fault that most of the other top contenders have been injured and haven’t played enough to defend the spot (Justine Henin-Hardenne) or grab it themselves (No. 2 Lindsay Davenport). But No. 1 was certainly within Anastasia Myskina’s sights and she choked away opportunities in Athens and the US Open. Now the Russian has a good chance to make good during the fall season. After beating Nathalie Dechy and then Elena Likhovtseva 4-6 6-0 6-2 in the quarters of Filderstadt, Myskina says her harrowing three set loss to Henin-Hardenne at the Olympics set her back.

"After the Olympics I lost a lot of confidence,” she said. Now she believes her focus is back and should she get on a roll the next month, the Roland Garros champ will end the year at No. 1, her strongest stated desire. It’s put up time in the semis against Davenport, whom she has never beaten.

The same goes for Mauresmo, who needs to dominate the fall season is she’s going to put some shine of her No. 1 trophy. That not only means winning Filderstadt, but the WTA Championships as well. "It's all about building things step by step,” the Slam-less Mauresmo said. "Hopefully a Grand Slam is going to come. "Ivan Lendl was (men's) No. 1 before winning his first Grand Slam. I hope that's going to be the same in my case too. I'm very proud of getting to No. 1, very happy about it. I'd been talking about becoming No. 1 for two-and-a-half years and finally I got to reach my goal. It's a great feeling and I'm going to try to keep that No.1 spot. You dream about it when you're a kid and when you grow up and you get it, you're able to live your dream."

It’s nice that the likable Mauresmo (easy to talk to off court and delightful to watch on court when she’s not choking) is living her dream. But spare us the Lendl reference. Mauresmo has reached one Slam final in her career (almost five years ago Down Under) while Lendl reached four Slams finals three years running before winning his first at ‘84 Roland Garros. Mauresmo certainly has a shot at one Slam title, but there’s now way that she’ll ever win eight overall like the Czech did. She’ll have a terrific chance to further prove herself in Filderstadt, when she faces US Open champ and No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has an outside shot at No. 1.

In Lyon, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s miserable year continued he fell to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. But, Sweden’s Joachim Johansson was tagged with a worse loss when he fell to his now surging countryman Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-4. It was a major blow for Johansson’s Tennis Masters Cup chances. Belgian Xavier Malisse took out Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-4, while Ferrer overcame Jonas Bjorkman 6-2, 6-4.

In typhoon-laden Tokyo, Lleyton Hewutt whacked Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 7-5 6-1 in the quarters, and will be joined by fifth-seed Jiri Novak, who took out Paradorn Srichapan 6-4, 6-4. Bohdan Ulihrach upended Bjorn Phau 7-5, 6-4 and will Taylor Dent, who downed Gilles Muller 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 .On the women’s side Maria Sharapova continued her Asia cakewalk by taking down Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-2, 6-3 in the semis. Sharapova will certainly be pressed in the final, as she’ll face the 28-year-old Mashona Washington, who took down Klara Koukalova 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Wahsington upset Sharapova at New Haven in August.