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Russian tennis star will work despite her lack of permit

Tennis sensation Anna Kourni-kova, who arrived in Taipei on Sunday to promote Omega wrist-watches and jewelry, needs a work permit to allow her to work legally here, even for a few days, her sponsor said yesterday.

The 22-year-old Russian tennis player is in Taipei for three days.

Her sponsor filed an application yesterday morning with the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and Taipei City's Bureau of Labor Affairs for a work permit for Kournikova.

Kournikova's product-endorsement activities began yesterday afternoon at a Taipei department store, as scheduled, despite the lack of proper paperwork.

Kournikova turned professional in 1995 to play on WTA Tour.

She won the hearts of tennis fans around the world in 1997 when she made it to the women's singles semifinals at Wimbledon.

Ranked eighth in the world at one time in 2001, Kournikova dropped out of several major tournaments earlier this year because of back and ankle injuries, and her ranking has dropped to 147th.

Kournikova has gained more fame through product endorsements than she has for her tennis.

Her popularity has enabled the Russian, who now lives in Florida, to easily earn more than US$30 million a year.
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