NEW YORK -- The second week of U.S. Open television coverage will be minus Anna Kournikova's midriff.
Kournikova didn't fare much better as a roving TV reporter than she did as a globe-trotting tennis ingenue.
The glamorous Russian, who worked three days at the Open during USA Network's coverage, said she was uncomfortable interviewing other players and spent too much time eating, besides.
A back injury has put her career in jeopardy, but she told tennisreporters.net that she isn't likely to make the segue into broadcasting full-time.
"We'd only contracted for her to work three days and that's the way it went down," USA spokesman Tom Caraccioli said. "Then again, who knows what opportunities will arise for her in the future."
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WAITING TO WIN: Jonas Bjorkman waited three hours and three minutes to make good on his match point Saturday.
Bjorkman was in the middle of what might have been the final point against Karol Kucera on Court 11 of the National Tennis Center when the rain started and play was temporarily suspended. He had already slipped twice -- once in each corner of the court -- when the chair umpire took the unusual step of stopping action during the point.
Once the court was dry again, Bjorkman finished his 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 victory in about 30 seconds.
He threw his arms into the air and gave the thumbs-up sign to the packed stands, then signed several autographs.
"It started to rain on deuce point and I got really nervous," said 20-year-old Kathryn Baldwin, the court attendant for the match. "I said "Oh no, we have to finish the match. I was hoping for two aces in a row. It was quite exciting that last slip. It was a match point, man. I felt so bad for him. He was pumped."
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MESSY COURT: The Grandstand Court was shut down for the night when oil leaked from a machine used to dry courts after rain Saturday.
Matches involving French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and No. 5-seeded Guillermo Coria were moved to other courts.
After the oil spilled, workers tried to clean up the mess, first with sawdust, then by pouring water on the court. Eventually, they gave up efforts to get the court ready in time for action Saturday night.
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GREEN CURRY, PLEASE: Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan is offering ordering advice for those who'd like to familiarize themselves with the cuisine of his country.
"Try green curry or red curry," he said when asked for a recommendation Saturday. "Try the noodles, phad thai. ... Most of the time the dish is really spicy, but has kick when you take it. Most restaurants, they try to cook it smooth for foreigners. If they see Thai people, it's "All right, here we go!"'
Srichaphan is going himself.
A 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 winner over Fernando Verdasco on Saturday, he now has a date with 2001 Open champion Lleyton Hewitt with a quarterfinal berth on the line. Paradorn reached the round of 16 in his second straight Grand Slam event.
"It's great to win a lot of matches, especially straight sets," Paradorn said. "It's good for the next match because I'm not using a lot of energy today. I think it's going to be a good match. I'm really looking forward to playing."
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PUTTING LESSONS: Spanish golf star Sergio Garcia gave players a way to pass the time during Saturday's rain delay. He has set up a putting game in the players' lounge.
The device changes the putt with each attempt.
Garcia, who has been dressed in tennis attire while watching the Open, sank eight straight putts before finally missing.
When 2001 Open champion Lleyton Hewitt gave it a go, he was way off. He hit the ball too hard.
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