Big names, big bucks

Superset Tennis brings men's stars, Kournikova to Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Australian sports promoter Steven Duvall was watching tennis on television one afternoon, but the match was running long. He was already late for an appointment.

"I had to race somewhere, and I never did see the end of it," he said. "And that started the thought process."

Three years later, Duvall is introducing Superset Tennis, a one-set, sudden-death tennis exhibition for a $250,000 purse that debuts Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland.

Eight big-name players -- Andre Agassi, Robby Ginepri, Max Mirnyi, James Blake, Vincent Spadea, Todd Martin, Jan-Michael Gambill and Taylor Dent -- will play in the one-day event, with an elimination round, two semifinal sets and a title set.

As an added bonus, Anna Kournikova will play a set against Amanda Coetzer.

In addition to the unusual sudden-death format, the event also veers away from traditional tennis in that a video umpire -- with slow motion capability -- can overrule the chair umpire's call. And there will be other high-tech advancements.

Duvall said he wanted to create a novel and exciting game, not encroach on conventional tennis.

"Let's not try to take away from the original format, let's just add to that," he said. "Let's show people something different."

Blake, a U.S. Davis Cup member who studied at Harvard and also was named one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," said the idea of sudden death tennis intrigued him.

"I thought it was something unique, and I always like to do something different," said Blake, who is often named along with Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt as the sport's next generation of stars. "I think you're really going to see some great tennis. You'll really get the crowd into it."

The event will be taped for broadcast on CBS on Thanksgiving Day.

Duvall said he chose Portland to kick off Superset Tennis because there are no ATP or WTA events played in the Northwest.

Although the event occurs on the same day as the Civil War football game between instate rivals Oregon and Oregon State _ arguably the biggest sporting event in the state each year -- Duvall said he believes there's plenty of sports fans for both major events.

And there's always Kournikova.

Kournikova has not played in a competition since May because of back trouble but has played in exhibitions to stay sharp. She does not plan to return until March at the earliest.

"I miss competitions so much and exhibitions are a great way for me to see how my back is feeling during competitive situations," she said in an e-mail interview.

A two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Kournikova reached her best world ranking of No. 8 two years ago. The back injury this year has seen her drop to No. 135. She has never won a singles trophy.

The field was supposed to include former No. 1 Hewitt, who had to withdraw to focus on the Davis Cup final between Australia and Spain on Nov. 28 in Melbourne. Mark Philippousis also withdrew last week because of his Davis Cup commitment.

Duvall said he plans four Superset events for men and four more for women at venues worldwide over the next five to 10 years.