Kournikova doesn't distract Lobsters

Is there any tennis player more invisible than Anna Kournikova's doubles partner?

Kournikova, the first of the long-legged, blonde-haired Russians to reach the top 20 of women's tennis, causing a ruckus with her undeniable beauty, was in Allston last night with the Sacramento Capitals to play the Boston Lobsters in a World Team Tennis match at Harvard's Bright Arena.

And when Kournikova ripped a forehand return down the line to give her mixed doubles team a 3-1 lead in the fourth set of the night, Mark Knowles -- the WTT's Most Valuable Player in 2005 -- might as well have been part of the court.

Kournikova got the cheer and, as usual, the crowd's attention. But the Lobsters rallied to take the mixed doubles and, before an audience of 2,162, went on to beat the Capitals, 24-18.

The WTT scoring is based on games won, and vexing to keep straight even for the spectators. It's easier to say that Boston won the women's singles and doubles, the men's doubles, and the mixed doubles. Sacramento won the men's singles.

Kournikova, once ranked No. 8 in the world in singles and No. 1 in doubles, doesn't play on the Women's Tennis Association professional tour anymore. No slight to Billie Jean King's invention, but World Team Tennis is not the same game. This is Kournikova's fourth year playing the WTT's July season, and the third since she gave up on professional tennis because of chronic back injuries. She remains one of the league's top draws and Boston is no different than any other city. WTT features a halftime show after three sets. Last night, Kournikova was the show. Two tiny girls were brought on court to ask her questions, and Harvard dean Benedict Gross came out to give her a Crimson track suit.

Kournikova cannot withstand the physical demands of the tour, but she was able to shake hands, sign a few autographs, and pose for pictures with the big spenders an hour before the match. While her graciousness boosts her celebrity status, her tennis career is still in limbo.

``I've never said I'm coming back but I don't want to say I'm not," said Kournikova, who spurred reports about a comeback after playing exhibitions with Martina Hingis. ``I'd like to be 100 percent mentally and physically ready to come back, and I'm not there."

The 25-year-old still hits the ball well. She is a smart doubles player, but after taking a 3-1 lead, she and Knowles -- who, Kournikova said, were celebrating the 10th anniversary of their first match together -- gave away critical points and lost the set, 5-4.

``She's still a great timer of the ball," said Boston's Nicole Pratt, who teamed with Kristen Schlukebir to put away Kournikova and Abigail Spears in doubles.

In the opening set, Boston's Thomas Blake (former Harvard captain and brother of James) teamed with Amir Hadad to get past Sacramento's Knowles and Sam Warburg, 5-4. Hadad then lost to Warburg in singles, 5-4.

Pratt beat newcomer Spears in women's singles, 5-1. In the final set, Kournikova and Spears fell to Pratt and Schlukebir, 5-4.