# So who's prettier, Sharapova or Kournikova? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448 "2004-07-04T04:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/41 "2004-07-05T04:38:12Z")
Would anyone say that a journeyman major league baseball player “can’t play the game”? Of course not. He may not be Sammy Sosa, but any major leaguer can certainly play the game. He’s one of the 600 best baseball players in the world. Anna K. has been ranked in the top 25 female tennis players in the world, and as mentioned above has won several major doubles titles. Like her or not, she CAN play the game. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/42 "2004-07-05T04:59:33Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Would anyone say that a journeyman major league baseball player “can’t play the game”? Of course not. He may not be Sammy Sosa, but any major leaguer can certainly play the game. He’s one of the 600 best baseball players in the world. > > Anna K. has been ranked in the top 25 female tennis players in the world, and as mentioned above has won several major doubles titles. > > Like her or not, she CAN play the game. She receives about 10 times the hype as her skill warrants, when compared with the hype similarly skilled atheletes receive. Happy? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/43 "2004-07-05T05:45:01Z")
Sharapova, hands down, no contest. A.K. is not really that pretty any way. Too much baby fat on her face. But Sharapova, with those beautiful long legs and awesome shoulders, WOW!! ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/44 "2004-07-05T05:46:14Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > Sharapova doesn’t have that wierd baby fat around her face like Kournikova does. Advantage, Sharapova. OK. Ya beat me to it! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/45 "2004-07-05T06:09:52Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > She receives about 10 times the hype as her skill warrants, when compared with the hype similarly skilled atheletes receive. Happy? Calling her out for taking advantage of the media’s lookism is a lot fairer than calling her tennis skills slight because you disapprove of all the media attention she’s gotten. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/46 "2004-07-05T07:23:30Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > If I were either Sharapova or Kournikova, I’d be pissed that all anyone could talk about were my movie star looks. Yes, we all weep for the hardships they endure. > [@](#): > > She’s an athlete, for goodness sakes. I wish people would recognize this before drooling over her physical attributes and putting up on some damn pedestal. Bitter much? This statement is laughable; why in the world would people focus on the physical attributes of an athlete? Gee, I wonder. > [@hillbilly queen](#): > > I’ve never understood why guys think Kournikova is so hot. She’s not feminine at all. I think it’s a “my buddy thinks she’s hot, so I think she’s hot”, type of thing. There is no such thing as “my buddy thinks she is hot, so I do too” among males. This concept is completely foreign…perhaps it’s a female thing? Every single guy finds _somebody_ attractive that their buddy thinks is nothing special. Spice of life, and all that. Case in point, a good buddy of mine would die a thousand deaths to get busy with Paris Hilton. I tell him I don’t get it; her sister is much more my cup of tea. Women are crazy. Most will complain about men drooling over female athletes, such as Anna K., or even more to the point, Brandi Chastain. But then they have no problem swooning over guys like Derek Jeter. Hypocrite, much? Most women who tolerate watching sports with their man will usually look for some hottie in the game to keep their attention. What, exactly, is the problem with the attention Anna K. got, and Maria S. will certainly get? Is it all just petty, catty jealousy? Before you answer about Anna’s tennis skills, remember the out-of-proportion-with-his-talent adulation David Beckham receives. The plain and simple truth is that the vast majority of all sports fans are men. This is the main reason most all women’s sports are a ratings disaster; women don’t watch. So the one sport that features hotties – tennis – does get ratings, and the complaints are all about men focusing on the women’s looks. Well, that won’t change until women en masse start caring about their fellow women in sports, otherwise known as “never”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/47 "2004-07-05T07:33:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > If I were either Sharapova or Kournikova, I’d be pissed that all anyone could talk about were my movie star looks. Nobody said it was the worst hand anybody was ever dealt, **Ellis**. But I imagine it would be annoying to have people pay less attention to your skills and more to your looks. (I’m glad I haven’t had that problem… it must be because I’m so talented! :p) > [@](#): > > I’m happy for Sharapova, really, but I’m already sick of her. It’s like the media couldn’t wait to push Serena to the side and fawn over yet another blonde, “hot” chick. Serena’s been the center of attention for several years, and people are always looking for the next thing. In addition, her play of late (when she’s played) has not been up to her standards. Sharapova was the toast of the US Open last year because she was young, talented, and yes, good-looking. I’m not sure what order those things should be in, but she clearly can play tennis with the best of them. In time hopefully the hype will die down and people will focus their attention on her talent, as she deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/48 "2004-07-05T13:18:17Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > Kournikova isn’t in Sharapova’s league, but I believe she did win some major double’s tennis championships. I’ll bet she could kick YOUR butt over, around and through a tennis court. Yeah, I sure regret claiming I was a better player than her, and not simply pointing out that she wasn’t considered one of the better professional players. You got me. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/49 "2004-07-05T13:35:04Z")
I know that as a hetero female, my opinion doesn’t count, but I find Sharapova _way_ prettier than Kournikova. ---
**Author:** ![Chunky\_Bum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Chunky\_Bum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chunky_Bum)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/50 "2004-07-05T14:24:45Z")
They are both very pretty, but [Martina Hingis](http://www.all-martina-hingis.com/www/image.htm?domainid=632&directory=www&search=sports+betting&img=images/m10.jpg) is still #1 in my book. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/51 "2004-07-05T15:01:31Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > Bitter much? This statement is laughable; why in the world would people focus on the physical attributes of an athlete? Gee, I wonder. So I take it you go on and on about “hot” Michael Jordan is over Kobe Bryant? I know this is a “guy’s guy” kind of thread, and I’m not trying to be the wet blanket. But for once I’d like female atheletes to get the same treatment that guys do. The commentators on the news could barely hide their erections over Sharapova. Wouldn’t you be annoyed if you turned on the news to find out who won the big tourney, and all you heard was how beautiful and glamorous the winner was? No, I’m not bitter. Nothing in my last post warrants that assumption. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/52 "2004-07-05T15:13:31Z")
My feelings towards Kournikova are largely x-rated. I mean, she is attractive and all but there isn’t a whole lot of depth to my feelings. Sharapova as well as actually seeming like a tolerable person to hang out with is actually good at tennis. Advantage Sharapova. Mary Pierce has been ranked number one in my books for quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/53 "2004-07-05T16:30:08Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Mary Pierce has been ranked number one in my books for quite some time. Well…[she is a sturdy lass.](http://image.sportscn.com/center/huabian/sunbaby/mary%20pierce-2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/54 "2004-07-05T17:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by astro_ > Well… she is a sturdy lass. That she is. Ya like what ya like. In high school I had a crush on a competitive swimmer who had shoulders almost as broad as mine - very pretty though. It should come as no surprise that I also find Serena Williams attractive. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/55 "2004-07-05T17:42:23Z")
> [@drm](#): > > That she is. Ya like what ya like. In high school I had a crush on a competitive swimmer who had shoulders almost as broad as mine - very pretty though. It should come as no surprise that I also find Serena Williams attractive. I like sturdy women also. I would imagine R. Crumb has a candlelit shrine devoted to [Serena Williams](http://webpages.charter.net/tennisfreak/spics/french045.jpg), she’s like one of his drawings some to life. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/56 "2004-07-05T17:47:00Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > Let’s see, Sharapova is 6’0", anyone have a step ladder I can borrow? :eek: So Maria…how _YOU_ doin? ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/57 "2004-07-05T18:37:58Z")
I’ve never seen women get their panties in such a twist over a couple of innocent comments like the ones **monstro** and I made. So calm down, straigten out your panties, and continue on with your fantasy. I’m gonna get me some steroids and make an appointment to get my boobs removed, so I can be hot and sexy too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/58 "2004-07-05T18:56:59Z")
> [@hillbilly queen](#): > > I’m gonna get me some steroids and make an appointment to get my boobs removed, so I can be hot and sexy too. 😛 **DON’T YOU DARE!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/59 "2004-07-05T19:17:07Z")
:d ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/60 "2004-07-05T19:19:14Z")
lets try that again 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448.md?page=4)