# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/61 "2004-07-06T01:13:19Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > 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. I was being a littleunfair in my comment, of course, but not much. Being one of the Top 50 players in women’s tennis is no easy feat. IIRC, she even cracked the Top Ten. But, as far as I’m concerned and as far as the WTA goes, Anna ain’t all that. She had potential, and either she burned out, or decided to focus more on entertaining than playing real tennis and quickly faded out of the rankings. Her last official ranking was something like 600, and she’s not even ranked this year, as she hasn’t played in enough tournaments. So, to be honest, no, I don’t think she CAN play the game any more. She was capable, but now her tennis career is secondary to her entertainment career. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/62 "2004-07-06T03:35:21Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Her last official ranking was something like 600, and she’s not even ranked this year, as she hasn’t played in enough tournaments. She hasn’t played at all in a year. While she didn’t focus on tennis as much as she should have, she also suffered from a number of injuries. Apparently she just played an exhibition match in Canada and is still playing World Team Tennis occasionally. Apparently there are some rumors that she may try to come back next year. ---
**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 7, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/63 "2004-07-07T07:38:26Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > So I take it you go on and on about “hot” Michael Jordan is over Kobe Bryant? No, I believe I mentioned upthread my preference was Anna. I also agree with the poster who mentioned Hingis; that doubles match with Anna and Martina a few years back was hot as hell. But I _did_ comment on David Boston spending too much time in the gym buffing up, to the detriment of his WR abilities. And I _do_ comment on the obviously enhanced physiques of the MLB roid-heads. If I were gay, or a woman, I’m sure I would comment on male athletes’ looks. I noticed several comments about Andy Roddick’s looks in another thread, for instance. I think I was pissed off by something non-board related when I posted. Re-reading it now, it’s harsher and more confrontational than it needs to be. But I stand by the points I made. I’ll try to do better in this reply. > [@](#): > > 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. I say that they do. I posit that women do drool over male athletes they consider to be hotties. The **only** difference is the percentage of men versus women who are sports fans. If as many women watched sports as men, then you would see plenty of catering to the basest common denominator with male athletes. Lifetime’s “SportStories” daily highlight show would be chock full of Derek Jeter, Andy Roddick, and David Beckham. The main difference is that men would not be complaining about the off-the-field attention male athletes got in such a world, unless it were to shrug and say “I wish I had his life.” > [@](#): > > 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 would not be annoyed in the least. I think Sharapova did get the kudos she deserved. In addition to that, she also got press about being the new Anna K, but with the talent to back up the hype. I continue to see nothing whatsoever wrong with this. The fact that you describe the news commentators as being barely able to “hide their erections” leads me to believe that you aren’t seeing the issue in a reasonable way. It sounds like jealously or bitterness. You have said you aren’t bitter. I’ll take you at your word, and just write off your use of loaded language as just another inexplicable behaviour of the female mind. Let me take a different approach. My main point is that women are just as “bad” (I don’t think it’s bad) as men about focusing on the physical in regards to famous athletes, the only difference is that most sports fans are men, so women’s shallowness is easier to miss or ignore. So let’s take another group of famous people who have an even fan base among men and women. How about movie stars? Are you honestly holding the position that Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom **don’t** receive the exact same type of adulation that Anna K. gets? Do you hear men complain? Have you ever heard a statement similar to “It’s so pathetic how Brad Pitt gets all this attention from women when he’s never won an Oscar. Compared to Gene Hackman, Pitt is a hack.” Deal with the Anna K and Sharapova adulation for exactly what it is: appreciation for an attractive person. Denigrating men for this behavior is being dishonest with yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/64 "2004-07-07T10:50:02Z")
Lets face it- most of the ladies on the circuit will be reasonably attractive due to their athleticism anyway- although I don’t find that French woman whose name escapes me as being anywhere near my ideal woman. Kournakova to me was always the shadow more than the substance. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/65 "2004-07-07T11:47:27Z")
A few points: Kournikova is a good player by the average Joe’s standards. She was even in the top 25 at one point, I think, but does anyone think the remaining top 25 players got nearly as much attention as her? No way. The attention she got was WAY out of proportion with her ability. That’s fine. She’s a clever self-promoter. She marketed herself as a sexy celebrity using the tennis exposure as a springboard. Her career is now “celebrity”. She just entered it through different channels than others. Sharapova has done much the same, posing in magazines, and modelling sexy clothes. And, has thanked Anna for paving the way. She’s just a way better tennis player. Even the Williams sisters are parlaying their tennis skills into careers beyond tennis. Because of these women, the marketing of women’s tennis using sex appeal is just a given now. The ratings (as well as the skirts) are consistently higher than the mens. If either of these women has a problem with men talking about their looks, then they’re completely hyprocritical (FWIW, I don’t think either of them do). For anyone to suggest that we should focus on their tennis and not their looks would be touting the women as disingenuous – they’re the ones that are selling their looks. Anyway, Sharapova or Kournikova? Maybe Kournikova, but give me that gorgeous rump and those beautiful curves on Serena anyday. Sharapova has no figure whatsoever. Her torso is like a plank of wood, 15 inches wide, and 3 inches think. I think Serena and Venus have much nicer personalities, too. Sharapova pulled out a cell phone on center court. What’s she going to do when you’re done having sex with her. . .call her mom? ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/66 "2004-07-07T13:58:11Z")
Anyone else think this sounds like a Letterman bit? Sharapova, Kournikova. Kournikova, Sharapova. Uma, Oprah. Oprah, Uma. Maybe it’s just me… ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/67 "2004-07-07T14:14:29Z")
All this talk about Serena Williams’ ass and not one word about her breasts? I’m shocked, dismayed, and flabbergasted. That is a first class bosom. As to S or K? I’ll take a little from column A and a little from column B. They’re both attractive, athletic, and wealthy - all of which are qualities I enjoy in a woman (or a man - hell, add Jason Sehorn, Howie Long, or Helios Castnevas to the mix and I’d do them all). ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/68 "2004-07-07T14:45:59Z")
I, too, am a big fan of Serena Williams. I especially like the fact that she has ‘ghetto booty.’ Why don’t I ever see any Asian female tennis players on TV? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/69 "2004-07-07T15:13:00Z")
I’d say Sharapova, but the Williams’ sisters blow them both out of the water. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/70 "2004-07-07T15:14:35Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Sharapova pulled out a cell phone on center court. What’s she going to do when you’re done having sex with her. . .call her mom? Geez. dude, she just won Wimbledon, I’d call my mom too. I think it’d be a different reaction than having sex with some average Joe. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/71 "2004-07-07T15:18:19Z")
Who’s prettier? **hillbilly queen**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/72 "2004-07-07T16:12:03Z")
What we don’t need is another woman tennis player with a swelled head over her looks. So let’s just say Kournikova, since she’s already irritating, and maybe Sharapova will keep on playing tennis and not think she’s a supermodel. I’m kinda into Karolina Sprem, myself. Wish I could find a picture of her without the bun. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/73 "2004-07-07T16:24:48Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > What we don’t need is another woman tennis player with a swelled head over her looks. So let’s just say Kournikova, since she’s already irritating, and maybe Sharapova will keep on playing tennis and not think she’s a supermodel. > > I’m kinda into Karolina Sprem, myself. Wish I could find a picture of her without the bun. [Here](http://www.gloria.com.hr/site/mainpages/slike/2004/srpanj/495/karolina.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/74 "2004-07-07T16:41:59Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/75 "2004-07-07T17:41:52Z")
The two women are just about equal in my book. The only way to settle the difference would be via a hot-oil wrestling bout, in my back yard. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/76 "2004-07-07T17:44:58Z")
Sharapova. Of course, Anna is no slouch either. I score them 9.0 - 8.5. I can’t believe anyone finds the Williams girls attractive in any way. I think they both look like Mike Tyson in drag. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/77 "2004-07-07T20:57:34Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Geez. dude, she just won Wimbledon, I’d call my mom too. > > I think it’d be a different reaction than having sex with some average Joe. 😃 Maybe for her, but if I did Sharapova, I’d be makin’ some calls! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448/78 "2004-07-07T21:18:53Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Sharapova. Of course, Anna is no slouch either. I score them 9.0 - 8.5. I can’t believe anyone finds the Williams girls attractive in any way. I think they both look like Mike Tyson in drag. Sometimes… Just sometimes… When those tight shorts… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whos-prettier-sharapova-or-kournikova/253448.md?page=3)