|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
'She's not lazy' Kournikova may play in Paris despite ankle injury
Posted: Thursday May 11, 2000 10:57 AM
BERLIN (AP) -- Anna Kournikova suffered a torn ligament in her left ankle while taking a spill at the German Open but may recover in time for the French Open, the Russian teen-ager's coach said Thursday. "When everything goes well, everything goes fantastic, she'll play in Paris," said Eric Van Harpen of the Grand Slam event which starts May 29. Van Harpen said Kournikova only tore one of three ligaments in her ankle. The 18-year-old fell to the ground writhing in pain during the final game of a 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 loss to Spain's Gala Leon Garcia Wednesday. Van Harpen also said Kournikova needs to cut back on all the distractions if she wants to reach the top of the tennis rankings. Ranked 14th, the photogenic Russian has never won a tournament, but is one of the most in-demand female athletes in the world among sponsors. She is also a public draw wherever she plays. "She is just 18, so she still has time, but something has to change now," Van Harpen told Germany's ZDF television. Kournikova, who let a third-set lead slip away, appeared to tire out during the 2 hour, 34 minute match against Leon Garcia on the slow European clay at the German Open. "She's not lazy -- It's a lot more that she's distracted by the whole circus, sponsors, photo appointments, all the spectators when she trains," Van Harpen told the Berlin daily B.Z. Van Harpen said during their first practice session in Berlin, there were 200 spectators and 100 photographers present. At other tournaments in Germany, she has drawn up to a 1,000 people to watch her train.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
