Kournikova/Bjorkman defeat Martina Navratilova & Todd Woodbridge in Wimbledon mixed

Reuters ^ | July 3, 2002 | Laura MacInnis

[jern]

Kournikova Jubilant After Mixed Doubles Win Wed Jul 3, 4:36 PM ET By Laura MacInnis

WIMBLEDON (Reuters) - Anna Kournikova ( news - profile - photos) repaired some dented pride Wednesday with a crowd-rousing mixed doubles win with Jonas Bjorkman ( news - profile - photos) against Martina Navratilova and Todd Woodbridge at the Wimbledon ( news - web sites) Championships.

Kournikova and Bjorkman fought back from a set down to take the second round match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 on court two, the site of the Russian beauty's much-publicized first round singles defeat last week.

Fans relished the all-star contest despite a late start and three lengthy rain delays.

The umpire reprimanded the boisterous crowd twice -- shouting during rallies is banned under Wimbledon rules -- but excited screams for all four players peppered the match.

Kournikova drew cheers from vocal male fans, but the crowd was also won over by Navratilova -- winner of 167 singles titles during her illustrious career.

Now 45-years-old, Navratilova made a one-off return to singles action last month at the Eastbourne International Championships, winning her first round match before losing to 19-year-old Daniela Hantuchova.

On court two, Navratilova played to the audience by lobbing her racket in the air and gesturing about the impending rain.

She bowed to her partner Woodbridge when he hit three quick net volleys in a row for a crucial first set point.

Afterwards, Navratilova joked she had become exhausted by the rain delays.

"I thought, 'one more warm-up and I'll be too tired to play'," she said, laughing. "I was on the bike out there, and doing my sprint-work. It was cold out there!"

Woodbridge missed several easy volleys in the later sets, which their opponents used to their advantage.

HEAVILY CRITICIZED

Kournikova, who has never won a singles title, was heavily criticized last week for her first-round exit from the Wimbledon singles draw.

The 21 year-old was beaming as she left the court on Wednesday, though, surrounded by security guards shielding her from a pack of fans.

After the match Navratilova defended the young Russian, criticizing the BBC for broadcasting an interview in which an abrupt Kournikova terminated an interview after taking offence at a line of questioning about her performance.

"Would he say that to Pete Sampras ( news - profile - photos) after he just lost the match? Never, ever," Navratilova said to reporters. "You don't treat men the same way as you treat women. He showed no respect to her as a person."

Kournikova had been asked if she would consider stepping down to a lower level of competition in a bid to gain confidence and wins.

The elder player said Kournikova should not be taken less seriously as a player because of her good looks, or her decision to cash in on them.

"She's a sex symbol. What's she supposed to do, say 'I don't want your money'?" Navratilova said. "There's nothing wrong with the attention she's brought to the game. She's not the one who's taking pictures of herself and putting them on page 3."

[anniegetyourgun]

Some guy is gonna come along and demand that you post pics of Anna.....tick, tick, tick.....any minute now....

[hole_n_one]

	Russia's Anna Kournikova watches the ball during her mixed doubles match with Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman against Australia's Andrew Kratzmann and Trudi Musgrave at the Wimbledon tennis championships, July 4, 2002. Kournikova and Bjorkman won 7-5 6-4. REUTERS/Ian Hodgson - Jul 04 12:47 PM ET
	Anna Kournikova runs to the net during her mixed doubles match with Jonas Bjorkman against Martina Navratilova and Todd Woodbridge at the Wimbledon tennis championships, July 3, 2002. Kournikova and Bjorkman fought back from a set down to take the second round match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Reuters) - Jul 03 5:18 PM ET
	Anna Kournikova runs to the net during her mixed doubles match with Jonas Bjorkman against Martina Navratilova and Todd Woodbridge at the Wimbledon tennis championships, July 3, 2002. Kournikova and Bjorkman fought back from a set down to take the second round match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters - Jul 03 5:20 PM ET
	Anna Kournikova returns a shot to Todd Woodbridge and Martina Navratilova, as partner Jonas Bjorkman looks on, left, during their Mixed Doubles match at Wimbledon, Wednesday July 3, 2002. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) - Jul 03 2:44 PM ET
	Martina Navratilova of the U.S. returns to Russia's Anna Kournikova and Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman in mixed doubles with Australia's Todd Woodbridge at the Wimbledon tennis championships, July 3, 2002. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell - Jul 03 12:44 PM ET
	Martina Navratilova, rear, faces Anna Kournikova across the net, during their Mixed Doubles match at Wimbledon, Wednesday July 3, 2002. Navratilova was partnered with Todd Woodbridge and Kournikova with Jonas Bjorkman.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) - Jul 03 12:09 PM ET
	Anna Kournikova and partner Jonas Bjorkman talk during their Mixed Doubles match against Todd Woodbridge and Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon, Wednesday July 3, 2002. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) - Jul 03 12:09 PM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova serves during her women's doubles match against Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya and Chinese Taipei's Janet Lee, with partner Chanda Rubin of the U.S., at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, July 2, 2002. Kournikova and Rubin won 6-2 6-2. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell - Jul 02 12:19 PM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova smiles during her women's doubles match against Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya and Chinese Taipei's Janet Lee with Chanda Rubin of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, July 2, 2002. Kournikova and Rubin won 6-2 6-2. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell - Jul 02 11:42 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova reacts during her women's doubles match against Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya and Chinese Taipei's Janet Lee with Chanda Rubin of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, July 2, 2002. Kournikova and Rubin won 6-2 6-2. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell - Jul 02 9:43 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova returns to Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya and Chinese Taipei's Janet Lee during her women's doubles match with Chanda Rubin of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, July 2, 2002. Kournikova and Rubin won 6-2 6-2. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell - Jul 02 9:30 AM ET
	Anna Kournikova plays a shot during her mixed doubles match with her partner Jonas Bjorkman in their match against Marius Barnard and Kristie Boogert at Wimbledon, Friday June 28, 2002. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) - Jun 28 4:00 PM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova pauses during her doubles match with Chanda Rubin of the United States against Spain's Eva Bes and Marta Marrero at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 27, 2002. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - Jun 28 4:18 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova pauses during her doubles match with Chanda Rubin of the U.S. against Spain's Eva Bes and Marta Marrero at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 27, 2002. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - Jun 27 11:00 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova smiles at the crowd during her doubles match with Chanda Rubin of the U.S. against Spain's Eva Bes and Marta Marrero at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 27, 2002. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - Jun 27 10:59 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova jumps to return to fellow Russian Tatiana Panova on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 24, 2002. Move over Anna Kournikova, here comes Daniela Hantuchova. Tennis has a new pin-up with the 'Babe from Bratislava' hailed both for her prettiness and her prowess on the court. (Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters) - Jun 25 5:13 PM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova jumps to return to fellow Russian Tatiana Panova on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 24, 2002. Move over Anna Kournikova, here comes Daniela Hantuchova. Tennis has a new pin-up with the 'Babe from Bratislava' hailed both for her prettiness and her prowess on the court. Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters - Jun 25 11:51 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova jumps to return to fellow Russian Tatiana Panova on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 24, 2002. Panova won the match 6-1 4-6 6-4. Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters - Jun 25 6:43 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova jumps to return to fellow Russian Tatiana Panova on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 24, 2002. Panova won the match 6-1 4-6 6-4. (Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters) - Jun 25 6:42 AM ET
	Russia's Anna Kournikova smiles during her match against fellow Russian Tatiana Panova on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 24, 2002. Panova won the match 6-1 4-6 6-4. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell

[gov_bean_ counter]

"She's a sex symbol. What's she supposed to do, say 'I don't want your money'?" Navratilova said

Hey Anna, if you drop your soap...

[hole_n_one]

Hey idiot!

Half of the pics linked are the same!

[dighton]

Hey idiot! Half of the pics linked are the same!

Not to worry! You were ........ uh ........ distracted.

[hole_n_one]

Whoo Hoo!

Russia's Anna Kournikova, right, kisses fellow Russian Tatiana Panova at the end of the Women's Singles first round match at Wimbledon, Monday June 24, 2002. Panova defeated Kournikova, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

[Paul Atreides]

I thought it was a mixed match. All I read about was Kournikova/Bjorkman competing against two men.

[hole_n_one]

Russia's Anna Kournikova returns to from fellow countrywoman Tatiana Panova, during their Women's Singles, first round match at Wimbledon, Monday June 24, 2002. Panova won the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.(AP Photo/Jytte Nielsen)

It's right click, then save as, right?

[Paul Atreides]

Yep.

[luckystarmom]

That was my thoughts exactly, especially when I saw the picture of Martina. Ahhh!

[Will_Zurmacht]

I usually complain about excessive pics.....

usually.....

[happytobealive]

Is the Tennis babe getting too muscular (big face, big arms)?

[DonQ]

So the sex symbol beat a champion more than twice her age, whose stats even after her prime are better than Kournikova could ever hope to match.

[Freebird Forever]

It appears to me that Anna Kournikova is a better partner for a man then Martina Navratilova could ever hope to be......even in her prime!