Good or bad? (Anna Kournikova)

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Product:	Anna Kournikova
Date:	31/08/01 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: brings money into tennis, good looks

Disadvantages: unfair on others players

Anna Kournikova is gorgeous - there aren't many males who would disagree with that. Even her female critics would be hard pushed to disagree with the beauty of this young Russian - but then again, that is never the issue over which the Anna Kournikova debate centers. Kournikova is undoubtedly beautiful, her looks earn her millions of dollars in endorsements every year - but does she really have any talent at tennis?

Kournikova's critics are fierce in their opinion that Kournikova lacks tennis talent. Her tournament record does little to support Kournikova's case as she has never won a tournament and frequently failed to make an impact in the grand slams.

Her critics have spread to the tennis circuit as well, French star Nathalie Tauziat fiercly criticising Kournikova in her book, claiming that she is not good for the tennis world as she devalues the tournament as a consequence of her looks earning her seeding in tournaments rather than tennis ability. Kournikova is the highest paid female star in tennis - but does her involvement in the game benefit the tennis world?

Against Kournikova, it is frustrating for other top stars who train hard all year round, concentrating fully on tennis and manage to win a couple of tournaments, then they turn around and find out that the Russian is earning much more money for them without having a great deal of success. Kournikova has not done anything of note in tennis, and it is looking increasingly unlikely that she will ever win a tournament.

On the other hand, her involvement in tennis does benefit the game as a whole. She brings in large amounts of money in advertising and sponsorship - at Wimbledon gate receipts rise dramatically when Kournikova is playing - and this money can be reinvested back into the youth side of the game. If Kournikova earns a lot of money for herself, good luck to her. She's earned it, albeit without much work, and people are only worth what others wil
l pay them.

The Anna Kournikova debate will rage on for many years yet. There will always be those who'll criticise her and those who drool over her. The best thing she could do would be to start suceeding on the tennis court to finally silence her critics.

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