Star and Girls Pic: Bigger Bust: Anna Kournikova Or Maria Sharapova?

Some people have called Anna Kournikova the biggest under-achiever in the history of women’s tennis.

Is it time to give Maria Sharapova that title?

When Sharapova was beaten in the third round of the 2011 U.S. Open by Flavia Pennetta, even she realized her frustrating situation.

“It was just one of those days. Unfortunately it was at the U.S. Open,” she said during her post-loss press conference on Sept. 2. “I made way too many unforced errors.

“It’s disappointing,” she continued. “It’s disappointing to lose in the middle of nowhere. It’s disappointing to lose in New York. Losing isn’t fun for anyone because we work to win. We don’t work to try to lose.”

Sharapova’s loss also leaves behind the images of her for marketing partners, including ads for Nike, Evian, Tag Heuer, Sony Ericsson and the U.S. Open, which are still postered throughout New York.

Despite greater expectations, Kournikova had a relatively quiet pro tennis career. She reached No. 8 in the women’s singles rankings, but never won a grand slam. Her forte was doubles, where alongside Martina Hingis she won the Australian Open in 1999 and 2002. Injuries curtailed her later years, and since retiring in 2007 has mainly limited her public appearances to World Team Tennis and exhibitions.

Where Kounikova (photo right) knew enough to display her assets was in modeling and marketing, positions that she actively embraced in men’s magazines and elsewhere, including her new role as a trainer on NBC’s The Biggest Loser beginning later this month.

anna kournikova