Anna Kournikova is hot.

Unless you claim residency under a rock somewhere near Timbuktu, you already knew that.

But many argue Kournikova’s success would have a cool effect on the health of women’s tennis. Skeptics say she’s more concerned with her hockey boyfriend/underwear endorsements/mom/Internet fan sites than tennis.

She’s just a crappy hot pants-clad tennis player who melts male hearts.

Kournikova carries a cornucopia of model-like talents. She knows when to smile, dazzle and has a real presence on the opposite end of a camera lens.

But she can’t carry a backhand, serve or return volley to save her tukus.

Anna in a skirt – must see TV. Anna in a singles match – must change channel.

It’s not fair.

Plenty of more talented players play professional women’s tennis today making it the better sport than men’s tennis. Monica Seles, Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriatti and Lindsay Davenport could knock Kournikova back into the Stalin regime, but don’t get the same media play as she does.

“She’s the No. 1 doubles player in the world,” said Eastern head tennis coach Brian Holzgrafe who is in his second year at Eastern. “I’d have to say at first I would’ve agreed with the critics, but she’s matured into an amazing player.”

So you’d want your daughter to be like Anna?

“It would be a hard thing to teach, but it would be great to have someone that could teach her to emulate her. Anna is just great,” Holzgrafe said.

Holzgrafe celebrates the success of women’s tennis. He says it’s about time the sport came to the forefront. The parity and depth of it is unmatched – Anna included.

Holzgrafe was Kournikova’s age not that long ago, so he can relate.

Jill Wirtz, a freshman on the tennis team said she can also relate and said Kournikova receives more than her fair share of unfair criticism.

“I’d say it probably makes her work harder,” Wirtz said. “I have no doubt she’ll prove herself sometime soon.”

Kournikova hasn’t won a major tournament title yet and when it does happen, no doubt worldwide pandemonium will spread.

Holzgrafe said he wants to be one of the first to jump on board the Anna gravy train.

“She’s a stellar doubles partner who has a great sense of finishing,” he said. “I have nothing but praise for her.”

So let’s beat the drum to back Anna all the way.