Comebacks will vary for Hingis, McEnroe ... and Anna?

	Once upon a time, Anna Kournikova was a great young player with a promising future. AP
	MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Justin. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

The short tennis offseason has produced some stirring revelations and possibilities. John McEnroe and Martina Hingis have announced they are returning to professional tennis, while Anna Kournikova, the player with the worst popularity-to-success ratio in sports history, raised eyebrows by saying she'd never rule out a comeback.

Let's start with the player who will have the biggest competitive impact. At 16, Hingis was the youngest player ever to hold the world No. 1 ranking (in 1997). She is a tennis genius who understands where and how every ball should be hit, and her timing and guile will still be unmatched on the WTA Tour.

Unfortunately, the thing that frustrated Hingis toward the end of her career -- the infusion of power in the women's game -- has only escalated. Success on the court came easily to Martina, but when the power era hit its stride, she seemed to lose desire and belief in herself. Instead of trying to figure out how to challenge the new regime, such as getting stronger and beefing up her serve, she chose to walk away, rationalizing that the girls were too big and strong for her and that her body was breaking down.

What makes her think she can step back in now? I believe it's the success of two players. Anastasia Myskina, a slight young woman with the same type of attributes as Hingis, won the 2004 French Open, the one Grand Slam that Hingis failed to win. Meanwhile, Justine Henin-Hardenne's success through her dedication to fitness likely convinced Hingis that she could still compete at the highest level -- if she's fully committed.

Look for a rejuvenated Hingis to be a second-tier top player, capable of competing and beating most women, but succumbing to the power and athleticism of Lindsay Davenport, Kim Clijsters and the Williams sisters.

Then, there's the 46-year-old McEnroe, who announced that he will compete in the doubles part of the ATP stop in San Jose, Calif., in February. McEnroe is one of those rare athletes who maintain the desire and ability to compete at a high level for decades. He is devoted to the sport and is still capable of playing great tennis, especially on fast indoor courts. Having practiced with him frequently over the past few years, I know this firsthand.

Mac is smart. He still serves and volleys well and understands the game as well as anyone currently playing. He isn't going to put himself in a position in which his weaknesses can be exploited. Doubles protects him against one of those weaknesses: decreased court coverage. Moreover, he chose one of the best, if not the best, doubles partners in the game, Jonas Bjorkman.

Anything can happen in one tournament, depending on the draw and other variables, but I would fully expect the team of McEnroe-Bjorkman to be dangerous, exciting and capable of beating any duo in the field.

Last and certainly least, the queen of style over substance: Kournikova. I have known Anna since our days at the Bollettieri Academy in the early '90s and I'm disappointed that someone with so much talent completely sold out to fame and fortune. People forget that before Anna became an obvious punch line, she had a bright future and was briefly an elite player on tour. Her semifinal appearance at Wimbledon in '97 and her runner-up effort in Miami a year later showed that she was capable of more than just pinups and regular appearances in gossip columns.

Sadly, while a back injury is a dependable alibi, the reality is that Kournikova's breakdown was mental, not physical. Her inability to deal with the pressure of living up to the hype that her off-court celebrity demanded led to what every golfer in the world knows as "the yips." Her back isn't why she stopped playing professional tennis; her inability to hit a serve in the vicinity of the service box was. 

It's about time Anna admits that it was easier to commit to a schedule of high-paying hit-and-giggle charity events, exhibitions and pro-ams than confronting her demons on the international stage against world-class competition.

Outspoken ATP tennis pro Justin Gimelstob is a frequent contributor to SI.com. Click here to read all of his columns.