Sports: Myskina leads Russian surge in women's game

Tennis

Myskina leads Russian surge in women's game

Anastasia Myskina is among six compatriots in the world's top 50, but she has her sights set on the top 10.

By EMILY NIPPS, Times Staff Writer

She's one of the top 20 players in the world, No. 1 among Russian women.

Yet Anastasia Myskina, the dark and lanky fifth-year pro, is not immune to the inevitable offer to young female athletes (particularly tennis players) these days:

A provocative photograph in a popular magazine.

Myskina (MUYSS-kee-nah) laughed, not the least defensive about posing naked on a horse for the October 2002 issue of GQ. She was joined by Russian player Elena Dementieva and Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova. The magazine called them "Eastern Bloc Hotties."

"It was definitely different experience," Myskina said in slightly broken English. "I enjoy GQ and it's nice to be in a shoot with the other girls."

The difference, she quickly pointed out, is her focus remains on her game. "Tennis is tennis," she said. "The other stuff is not tennis."

And the 21-year-old can play tennis. She went from No. 59 in the WTA Tour rankings to No. 11 in little more than a year and has gained who-is-that-player status among tennis fans for her rapidly improving game, rather than her looks.

Myskina advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open in January before falling to No. 4 seed Kim Clijsters. She earned her third singles title at Doha, Qatar, in February. Also that month, she cracked WTA's top 10 and surpassed $1-million in career prize money. "I was ready (for the sudden success)," Myskina said. "I was working hard, but I was surprised at how quickly it happened. Tennis, it's always up and down."

Myskina is seeded second in this week's Sarasota Clay Court Classic, topping a draw that features several top Russian women, including fifth seed Elena Bovina (No. 16 in the world), sixth-seeded Dementieva (21) and returning finalist Tatiana Panova (28).

Being No. 1 in Russia is quite a distinction, especially with seven Russians in the world's top 50. The number is surpassed only by the 11 U.S. women in the top 50. Myskina, who as a junior was a member of the 1998 Russian team that was the world's best, winning the Connelly Continental Cup, believes the more Russian women in the top rankings, the better it is for all Russian players.

"Maybe we have good competition among each other," she said. "Right now, we compare ourselves to each other and it's hard to get on the Cup team. I think it's good that we all try to play to that high level."

The true test is whether a top Russian baseline player like Myskina can top the rankings with American power-hitters like Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati in the way.

"She's a real skinny minnie," tennis historian and journalist Bud Collins said of the 5-81/2, 130-pound Myskina. "But she gets a lot of power behind her swing."

Myskina has lost in the early rounds in her past few tournaments, but she remains confident.

"Really, right now, I just want to be in the top eight in the world," she said. "I'm going to work really hard to be there."