Former WTA No.8 and doubles No.1 Anna Kournikova will participate in World Team Tennis this year for the St. Louis Aces. The Russian will play three dates for the Aces in July.

Anna’s team-mates for St. Louis will include Andy Roddick. Other tennis stars who will participate are Serena Williams (Washington Kastles) and Lindsay Davenport (Newport Beach Brakers)

This multi-million product endorser is considered to have never fulfilled her potential. Maybe it is the glamour of modeling that hampered her in achieving her ultimate goals or maybe the number of injuries, including a right-foot stress fracture and torn ligaments in her left ankle and right thumb. We could only imagine the heights of success this 28-year old could have achieved if she started winning slams during her prime. Most people say that we are seeing what Kournikova could have been in the shape of Maria Sharapova. Critics could not help but compare these two Russians whose beginnings are so much alike. The only big difference is the younger Russian could really play good tennis under pressure while the other was considered to be “all glamour”.

It was evident that at the peak of Anna’s tennis career, photo journalists packed the tennis sidelines to capture glamour rather than tennis. Her games were sold out, thus, her presence in tournaments could mean more ticket sales. The tennis followers adored her – but probably all for the wrong reasons. Ladies anticipated the latest outfit she would parade and the male population would probably pray for a windy day!

Her presence on court was all people paid for. And winning was only a bonus.

Then again, I question if Anna really loved the game that gave her so much fortune and fame. If not for fame and all the distractions, we could have probably witnessed a true tennis champion, both on and off court in Anna.