Kournikova to play Charlottesville event

Anna wins at Cloister Cup SEA ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- Anna Kournikova, playing her first match in a month, recorded a three-set victory Wednesday in the opening round of the Cloister Cup. Kournikova, recovering from a tear in her left abductor muscle April 9 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., beat Maria Fernanda Alves 4-6, 6-4, 3-0. Alves retired after suffering a left thigh injury in the third set. "It's not the best match I've played," said Kournikova, whose appearance in the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit event at Sea Island is part of her preparation for the French Open later this month. "That's why I'm here," she said. "I need to play as many matches as I can." FULL STORY

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova has committed to play in a $25,000 minor league event here beginning May 11.

Kournikova, who has never won a WTA Tour singles tournament, will be the top seed in the USTA Women's Pro Championship at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville.

Kournikova is using the minor league event to rehabilitate from an injury that forced her to quit a match at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., in April, her management company, Octagon, said in a statement.

More established players also have used the lower tier of tennis tournaments to regain confidence or tweak their games.

Kournikova, ranked No. 72, reached a career high ranking of No. 8 in May 2001.

 

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