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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SPORTS Thursday, April 27,2000 ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: g it LONDON — For the first time in three years, Anna Kournikova is playing for her native Russia in the Fed Cup. Her return highlights the start of play three European sites as the Fed to anew format. The 18-year-old has been criticized in Russia for skipping previous Fed Cup matches. She last played for Russia in 1997 stress fracture ofthe right foot last year. In ‘96I hada torn ligamentof my rightthumb when I didn't play Wimbledon. Soit'snota huge decision for me this year because I knew I was going to play.” Kournikova, who has a 22 Fed Cup record in singles and 9-0 in doubles, Likhovtseva as No. 2 Elena Dementieva and Lina Krasnorutskaya are the likely doubles team. Under the new Fed Cup format, 12 World Group teams are competing in three round-robin groups today through Sunday in Moscow; Bari, Italy, and Bratislava, Teportedly antagonized Russians by prac- Slovakia. from in Moscow this week. She rejected suggestions she mightbe left on the bench. “Ofcourse, I'm No.1,” shesaid.“It'sout The i United States received a bye. The three winners of this weekend's group play will join the Americans in the semifinal and final round Nov. of the question.” 22-26, to be contested at an undetermined The Russian federation later announced that Kournikova would be the team's No. 1 singles player, with Elena site in the United States. Joining Russia in Group C in Mosco are Australia, Belgium and France. Group A in Bari has Italy, Croatia, an: Kournikovato Represent Russia in Fed Cup for First Time in Three Years on 17-year-old Jelena Dokic, who reached the Wimbledon group interesting, with all four teams featuring young and older talent. Australia will rely Havethe Pieces In Placefora Title @ Continued from B-1 to Utah. “Once I quit, or did the shortest retirement in history, I realized about the highest contrast * Easy-to-read display the preseason. amr ciate PLLCLig Pers wey * Long-life lithium Azzi insisted she had no ill feelings toward Detroit Coach Nancy color Maas Meech * SKU x 428070 6 Lieberman-Cline — unlike Cindy Brown and Korie Hlede, who were outspoken abouther coaching tactics after they were traded to Utah. Azzi played on the 1998 goldmedal World Championship team with Natalie Willi CeeLrg RP)Uae Ce rn ne and was asked to play on the 2000 Olympic team, but Ned the invitation Eat ee because she didn’t want to commit to the extensive tour the National Team took during the offseason. She did notrule out returning to the team ifshe was asked. Utah made a big jumpin talent last year, landing Williams, but the Starzz didn’t gain much on their opponents, thanks to the influx of ABL talent. Acquiring Azzi, though, gives Utah a huge advantage. Utah’s probable starting lineup now has two 2000 Olympians-to-be in Wil- **See bottom of ad for detafis'ofthe’ ISP mail-in rebate p 9 liams and 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek of Poland, a former Olympian in Azzi, an ABLall-star in Adrienne Goodson and an up-and-coming shoot- STS yLuh ing guard in Hlede. on any Intel erent “It’s probably the strongest frontline in the league,” Azzisaid. “There is a lot ofdiversity. Youcan playplayers that can run thefloor, and if you want a really strong halfcourt game,thatis there.” The ‘Starzz suddenly have an experienced team with a good perimeter game to boost the inside talent. Starzz fans got a glimpse of whata solid perimeter game can do after Hlede joined the squad in Ju- Pee es expires 4/30/00 Rebate Offer from imation expires 5/11700 Petals instore ly, as Utah went8-3 with her. Perhaps one of the best things about the 2000 Starzz squad is familiarity. Azzi played with Brown and Hlede in Detroit and Azzi, Goodson, Mulitauaopele and Williams are familiar with each other from their ABL days. In addition, Azzi, Kate Starbird and Mulitauaopele are Stanford graduates. 30" X GO" Ki BANQUET TABLE ©* Brown/wain SKU. asae 669606 on “It’s just a matter of putting people together and having great attitudes,” Azzi said. “When I was in Detroit, Korie, Sandy Brondello and I had trouble findingour roles. Korie and I are very different players and she has thepotential to be anything she wants to be. She is one of the best guards I have ever played with. I’m really looking forward to playing with her.” SWEET STIKS GOLF CO For Staples Store Locations Near You: Aah tibetanhirdamintLidia tsb Z Aisadanke competing said. “It took awayall the salary issues and all those things and 1 looked atit in a differentlight. You can’t really get that type of vision until you get away from it.” Azzi set a WNBArecord last year, shooting 51.7 percent from three-point distance, and ranked seventh in field-goal percentage (614) and 10th in assists (3.8). Yet she never was 100 percent because of a torn quadricep she suffered in |