Russian starlet Anna Kournikova was comprehensively beaten 6-2 7-5 in the first round of the Australian Open Tuesday by Justine Henin, but, like a broken record, she said it would all get better one day. Sporting this year's new look -- powder blue hipster shorts, white belt and matching sleeveless, low cut top --Kournikova gave another demonstration of why, when it comes to attracting hordes of photographers, she has no peers on the circuit.
She also showed why, despite all the hype, she has still to win a single tournament after five years and 94 WTA tournaments. As the sun peeked through on a breezy Melbourne day, it was Henin, last year's Wimbledon finalist, who lit up the Vodaphone arena, not Kournikova.
The Russian girl with the movie star looks is rumoured to be making a cameo in the next James Bond film, and she probably has more chance of doing that than winning a grand slam title.
Henin, at 19 a year younger than Kournikova, has had a phenomenal 12 months, coming from nowhere to a sixth seeding in Melbourne, and ran rings around the Russian in the first set, lobbying, passing and chasing Kournikova off the court. Bureau Report