Russia discovers life beyond Kournikova

Danger woman Anastasia Myskina

Just a few yards away from the scene of Anna Kournikova's latest setback at Eastbourne on Tuesday, another young Russian sensation was continuing her impressive run of results. As ever, Anastasia Myskina barely got a mention in the morning papers.

Living in the shadows of the blonde superstar has become a way of life for Myskina. They were born in Moscow less than a month apart, in the summer of 1981 and as children, the two would practise together at the same club. They were best of friends until Kournikova's parents decided to move to the United States in 1992.

Since then, their lives have followed very separate tracks. Myskina is the antithesis of Kournikova. Apart from the physical difference – she is dark-haired and olive-skinned – the 20-year-old does not enjoy any big endorsement contracts or have a personal website. In fact, the only thing the two players seem to have in common is their nationality. "Anna is very famous now," the world No 22 and 18th seed says, "but we have remained good friends. We both started tennis at the age of six and played together at our club, Spartak. We have known each other forever."

Ever since she and Kournikova turned professional in 1995, Myskina has been left to play second fiddle. It is a role which has obvious disadvantages, but a number of plus points, too. "It probably works out at 50-50," she says. "On the one hand, the fact that nobody knows me means that there is no pressure on me to perform or get results. The media are not reporting on my every move. The flip side is that I could reach the final of a tournament and no one would bat an eyelid."

People, though, are beginning to take notice of her. A finalist at the DFS Classic in Birmingham last weekend, where she lost to Jelena Dokic in three sets, Myskina enjoyed another solid run on the grass courts of Eastbourne last week. In the second round, she defeated the vastly experienced Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand. Not bad for a player who says she hates the grass. "It gets everywhere," she says. "After a match, it's on my legs, on my arms, in my hair. I much prefer the clay."

Her quarter-final appearance at the Italian Open last month is testament to that, although the Williams sisters have shown that a back-court game can be dangerous on grass. "You can definitely win Wimbledon from the baseline," she says. "I think it's more interesting anyway because the rallies last longer and there is a real strategy attached. I love having to out-think my opponent."

Actually, Myskina is just happy to be playing again. A ligament injury to her left wrist threatened to end her career last year, and she seriously considered giving up the game to study at university. But surgery was successful, and, following a change of coach, she is now playing the best tennis of her life. "I think the key was making my father my coach," she says. "He is not a tennis player himself, but he knows a lot about mental training, and he has passed all that on to me. I feel really confident at the moment."

Myskina's game is based on hard-hitting and good fitness. Her double-handed back-hand is hit very flat, while her powerful forehand skims nicely on the short-cut grass. Her only weakness is her second serve, which is sometimes on the soft side. "There are always things for me to improve on," she says, "but that is what's fun about the game. I would be bored if I was the best in the world and everything was easy."

On form, the opening four rounds at Wimbledon should cause her few problems, but she will need to be at her best for the probable quarter-final against the No 3 seed, Jennifer Capriati. At least Myskina knows that she would have a chance against the American, having pushed her to three tight sets at the Miami Open in March. "That was an incredible match for me," she says, "because it made me realise that I had reached a certain level. I don't fear opponents any more."

The draw means that Myskina could meet her old friend Kournikova in the semi-finals. But no one, not even the two players, believes that to be a realistic prospect, though Myskina has found at least one reason to hang around SW19 for a while. "I hope to stay in the tournament for as long as possible," Myskina says. "That way, I can eat those amazing prawn sandwiches every day."