Meet Anna of the U.S.

Harkleroad loses debut

BY JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ
jrodriguez@herald.com

Ashley Harkleroad lost her Sanex WTA Tour debut at the Ericsson Open on Wednesday. Tennis fans shouldn't fret if they missed it. They can expect to see a lot more of the 15-year-old on and off the tennis court.

Most players tend to shy away from comparisons.

Harkleroad welcomes them, especially the ones that draw parallels to Anna Kournikova.

A resident of Wesley Chapel outside of Tampa, Harkleroad is billed by many as this country's answer to Kournikova. Like her Russian counterpart, Harkleroad has top-10 talent. She also has an appeal that transcends the court.

Nike has picked up on it, which is why it is bankrolling Harkleroad, along with European racket string manufacturer Babolat.

``It doesn't make me feel awkward,'' said Harkleroad, following her 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 loss to Miriam Oremans.

``They just want there to be, like, a Kournikova, but from the U.S. I guess. I hope I can be that.''

Harkleroad includes Kournikova among her favorite players, in addition to world No. 1 Martina Hingis. Both Hingis and Jennifer Capriati live at the Saddlebrook Resort, as does Harkleroad.

``I've played matches with [Capriati] a couple of times,'' said Harkleroad, of Flintstone, Ga. ``I've hit with her. Lots of pros come in and out of Saddlebrook I get to train with.''

PROTEST HELD

Four individuals with signs protesting the lack of African-Americans competing at the Ericsson Open greeted fans as they approached the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.

Among those were Pompano Beach resident and tennis family patriarch William Washington. He can boast four kids with tour experience, including former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington and current Sanex WTA Tour pro Mashona Washington. He contends tournament organizers across the country exclude up-and-coming African Americans when awarding wild cards.

``All the wild-card opportunities are going to white people,'' he said. ``They are recycling the same people. We cannot get people of color or African-Americans into these tournaments if these guys are going to only give wild-card opportunities to white players. This is my concern.''

It's the practice of the Ericsson Open and other top tournaments to give wild-card bids to established players and the most prominent juniors. On the men's side, Chris Woodruff, Andy Roddick and Taylor Dent were the Americans offered entry into the main draw. Goran Ivanisevic and Alexandre Simoni also accepted wild cards.