Kournikova returns to Philly for WTT match

Anna Kournikova returned to Villanova University on Tuesday for competitive tennis for the first time since 2000, the year she and partner Martina Hingis won the doubles title at the Advanta Championship. At the time, Kournikova was a 19-year-old pro with five years' experience trying to establish her career.

Years later, however, spinal injuries stopped her from continuing as a full-time tennis player, and she reduced her workload to occasionally playing exhibition matches and on the World TeamTennis circuit.

"I just love the whole format," she said. "We play everything in three hours. . . . And for me, especially, since I can't play full time and I'm not on a professional tour, it's a great way to be back on the court. It's short and sweet."

On Tuesday night, she was on the tennis court for her eighth consecutive season with World TeamTennis. Her team for the last three seasons, the St. Louis Aces, fell to the Freedoms, 22-17, at the Pavilion at Villanova, the Philadelphia team's new home.

With partner Liga Dekmeijere, Kournikova lost in women's doubles, 5-3, against Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Courtney Nagle. Kournikova teamed with Andrei Pavel in mixed doubles, losing to Nagle and Prakash Amritraj, 5-2.

Before the match, Kournikova conducted a tennis clinic at Villanova. She exchanged serves with children, and in perhaps a telling sign that much time has passed since she and Hingis were the No. 1 doubles team, one of the clinic's participants, a preteen girl, got a ball past her. Kournikova laughed and gave the girl a high-five.

Certainly Kournikova wasn't exhibiting the competitive spirit that helped her and Hingis win two Grand Slam doubles titles, but it was a subtle reminder of the children who aspire to become professional tennis players.

Once ranked as high as No. 8 in singles, Kournikova remained in the spotlight after she stopped touring, gaining celebrity after she was chosen as the cover girl on Sports Illustrated's 2004 swimsuit issue, and for her on-again, off-again relationship with singer Enrique Iglesias.

In her free time, Kournikova spends time with children at the Boys and Girls Club. She also has made trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, speaking to military members as well as speaking to children at school.

"It really is about empowering and encouraging kids to get into sports and lead healthy lifestyles," she said.

Looking back on her career, Kournikova said she was satisfied with the way things turned out.

"I don't regret a thing and I wouldn't change a thing. The only small things that I regret is that I wasn't as healthy as I wish I could be," she said, "sometimes playing a little too soon after injuries."