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'I can't judge anyone'

Kournikova responds to questions on Hingis' behavior

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Posted: Thursday June 10, 1999 02:26 PM

Kournikova (right) said she tried to cheer Hingis up on Sunday before they lost the doubles final to Venus and Serena Williams. AP

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Being the doubles partner of the No. 1 ranked women's tennis player isn't always easy.

Anna Kournikova discovered that on Wednesday during a telephone conference call that was supposed to promote next month's A&P Tennis Classic at Mahwah.

Instead of being center stage with the exhibition tournament, Kournikova spent a good deal of time answering questions about Martina Hingis' tantrums and arguments during her loss to Steffi Graf in the French Open final on Saturday.

Kournikova, who turned 18 on Monday, was diplomatic.

"I can't judge anyone," Kournikova said from London, where she is preparing to play at Eastbourne. "I know what it feels like to be on the court. It's very hard. You have a lot of emotions when you play.

"You want to win and maybe you are disappointed with some things, and it's really hard going through different emotions when you are on the court. ... You have to be an athlete to understand what emotions you are going through."

Many in the crowd at Roland Garros thought Hingis went a little too far. The 18-year-old smashed her racket to the ground and broke it during the match, argued with the umpire and linesmen, walked on Graf's side of the court to dispute a call and even served underhand in her final game.

When asked if Hingis went a little overboard Saturday, Kournikova deferred.

"I don't know, I'm sorry," she said.

Hingis was jeered by the crowd during the match and later when she came back on the court for the awards ceremony.

Kournikova said she tried to cheer Hingis up on Sunday before they lost the doubles final to Venus and Serena Williams in three sets.

"She seems to be fine," said Kournikova, who added she has learned playing with Hingis and that they have a great friendship.

When asked if she would act like Hingis, she said:

"Probably not, I try not to."

While Kournikova still hasn't won a tournament, she feels there is a time for everybody.

 

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