Maria Sharapova vs. Anna Kournikova

July 19, 2004

Tale of the Tape:
Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Anna Kournikova (RUS)

The leggy Wimbledon champ stunned Serena Williams to take the title at the All England Club, but was it enough to put the Anna comparisons behind her? Apparently not:

Category

Maria
Sharapova

Anna
Kournikova

Comment

Age
While apparently over the hill in tennis, the 23-year-old Kournikova is ready, willing and legal, though Enrique Iglesias says hands off. Sharapova looks the part of a six-foot supermodel, but the 17-year-old will get you nothing except a stint in the slammer.
Big Result
Maria beat two-time defending champ Serena for the Wimbledon title with her career still blossoming. Anna reached the SF in her first Wimbledon appearance, then plummeted downhill after opting to play doubles with half the NHL All-Star team, and she still has no titles.

Skank-ability

Aside from her orgasmic-like grunts, the squeaky-clean teen Sharapova is all business, though can't help looking Vogue-ready in a dress and heels. On the other side of the coin, there's not enough space here, or enough megs on this site, to list Anna's escapades -- look for the coming supplemental.
Quotability
Maria "tee-hee"d her way through Wimbledon, while Anna knew the score from the start, once saying "I'm like an expensive menu...you can look but you can't afford."
Playing Status
While a chronic bad back keeps Anna from little exercise that is not horizontal, Maria is injury-free and closing in on the Top 5, and has already equaled Anna's career-high No. 8 ranking.
Media Relations
A near pick 'em with the nod to the new Russian. Sharapova with her runway looks was the top search on Yahoo! following Wimbledon, but Anna was no slouch back in the day. Sample shots to the press: "I worked very hard and I earned all the attention I'm getting…It's that I have a good personality and am a good tennis player…It's true I always try to be as seductive as possible but I wouldn't be here if I couldn't play tennis…Like any young person, I do what I want."
Sexiness
How many of the "lad" magazines would have gone under were it not for the scantily-clad Lolita, who still has it at the ripe old age of 23? Tough call though, with the leggy Maria not needing to try real hard.
Coming Attractions
Anna is playing World Team Tennis this summer, testing out the back and saying a comeback is not out of the question. For Sharapova, the sky is the limit, and other clichés. Unfortunately was Anna to return at her very best…she still wouldn't be winning tournaments or coming close to beating Maria.
Significant Other
 

Sharapova's love interests have been kept tightly under wraps, while Anna's parading around wearing a $5 million dollar ring alledgedly given to her by Enrique Iglesias.

Handlers
Sharapova signed with Anna's old firm, IMG, since they wrote the book on how to market a Russian bombshell. Anna's now represented by the Crazy Eights at Octagon, who have worked their PR magic on players like Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis. Yikes!
Dropping Bombs
Again, Sharapova too new and too squeaky clean, while the been-around-the-block Kournikova has survived a number of encounters, most notably with Mark Philippoussis, who when asked about their relationship laughingly replied (on camera), "I was just <expletive deleted> her mate!"
Totals
5
6
Anna squeaks this one out, leaving Maria to ponder her future -- of probably not wanting to win this competition, ever.



 

 

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