Of course she’s not. She’s beautiful…and talented.
Nope, I feel exactly the same way. Cuter, friendlier, and a better body.
All hail Harry Lime!
Anna is definetly not the greatest tennis player, but she is hot! and that (I think) was the OP’s gist, as far as Anna being
“a perfectly average European chick who just happens to play tennis”, what are you stupid?, or are you just trying to play it cool?, if the “average” European chick looked like that, all of the other continents would have massive shortages of men.
unclviny
First of all, Martina Hingis is anything BUT friendly. FWIW, I think she’s a snotty spoiled li’l brat. So is Anna Kournikova, of course.
But here’s what I don’t get. People always get on Kournikova’s case of being “untalented”, or “not trying hard enough”, or not taking her sport seriously", blah blah.
As you can see here, she’s been in the Top 100 since 1996 (after turning pro in 1995), with ups and downs. She’s no Hingis or Williams, but they can’t all be the best. Besides being able to play tennis, she also has a gorgeous body, and she’s not afraid to use it. The way I see it, she realises her tennis talents won’t ever get her to the Number One spot on the WTA rankings, and she’s just preparing herself for a carreer as a full-time model in due time. The girl is not even 22, has been playing professional tennis for 7 years, won $3.5 million during those years, and can start working for Karl Lagerfeld tomorrow if she wants to.
What’s stupid or loathsome about that? I’d say she’s a hell of a lot smarter than some higher-ranking tennis players, and she’s doing good for herself.
As for the cynical ladies: are you honestly surprised that most men find this an attractive girl?
Most men and lesbians, of course. 
And if you look deep, deep into her eyes, you can see her thinking “I want Unclviny”.
Surprised?
No.
A little let down that a [somewhat][certainly more than me] talented girl is reduced to selling her image as a sex kitten in order to make a name for herself?
Yes.
Okay, you’ve made me do it. Current Tennis players as good or better looking than Anna Kournikova. I’ve included their rankings as well. Kournikova is 35(pretty good, really).
Daniela Hantuchova(8)
Martina Hingis(10)
Now here is a fellow Russian even. Elena Dementieva(18) I’ve included a photo for her.
http://www.wtatour.com/index.cfm?section=players&cont_id=player&personnel_id=70&roster_id=12
Jelena Dokic(9)
Amelie Mauresmo(6) Okay, this one is debateable, but I like her.
And even another Anna! Anna Smashnova(16).
And these are only the players that are ranked higher than her!
I’ve always told people that if they want to be cool, be the first to have a crush on Elena Dementieva.
So, I take it that you disapprove of ALL models, then? After all, girls like Eva Herzigova and Tyra Banks are also using their bodies to make money. And I could google you a picture of each and every one of them that would have them qualify for the “Sex Kitten” category.
I don’t think Anna Kournikova is “reduced” to do anything. She’s a smart girl who’s making the most of her abilities, be it aquired or natural. She’s got a hot body, and has decided to exploit it. As she’s an adult, I see nothing sad about that.
Oh, and “Smashnova” is the best name EVER for a tennis player.
Actually I do disapprove of the modeling industry as a whole. Women and girls are given ‘role models’ that are praised almost exclusively for their genes.
A girl can dream that one day, with hard work, skill, and determination, she can excel at tennis. Or write a bestselling novel. Or develop a cure for HIV/AIDS.
The only person who can perhaps fulfill a young girl’s dream to be a size zero is often a plastic surgeon.
Let’s see, she is 22 years old and working on (minimum) her 5th million dollars, OK I give up, where is the “reduced to” part?, hey, she won the genetic lottery, I didn’t, I’m over it.
unclviny
I looked at all of these girls (except the Smashnova girl, she was not listed), I will stick with Anna thank you.
unclviny
Even over Elena?
By any chance did you happen to pay $47,000 for your Lisa Lionheart[sup]TM[/sup] doll?
Yes, it is wrong that there aren’t many role models for young women as you describe, but how many role models for young men are there that are famous simply because of atheletic ability or appearance? Tons and tons, most of them, in fact. At least Anna has gotten drunk and caused a horrific accident, unlike one female athelete I could name. Nor has Anna been implicated in the murder of her spouse or ex-spouse (as a couple of male actors and atheletes have been). Heck, Anna’s led a relatively scandal free career, considering what some of her fellow atheletes have done, I’d say that was pretty remarkable and worthy of praise.
Like Jackie Collins. There’s a laudable goal.
So it’s a zero sum game between Penthouse and Johns Hopkins?
laughs
Hey, I don’t begrudge ‘the beautiful people’ the fact that they won the genetic lottery.
I am, as I said, only disappointed that some of these women are lauded for gifts that they had nothing to do with.
I am the person who has ultimate responsibility in educating both my son and my daughter about the world, and though I cannot choose their rolemodels for them, I can have frank and honest discussions with them about the world and what place they might want to seek in it.
Mahaloth: Thanks for the visual tour through girlie-girlie tennisdom. 
Now, after all is said, done, and carefully observed, I’ll still take Anna for my dream vacation companion. She’s just more purdy than them other chicks!
I understand what you’re saying, and (at least to a certain extent) I agree.
At the same time, (for example), Thomas Wolfe had no hand in getting the talent and observational skills, the stamina and the overarching will that made him a great novelist. He developed it from there, but he had the raw material to work with. We’re all a combo of natural talents and the way we apply and develop them.
In Anna’s case, it’s a double-edged sword. She gets a lot of money and play because of her looks, but a lot of people dislike and/or resent her, or treat her as something of a joke. Still others think Martina Hingis is cuter than she is. It’s tough being Anna.