TENNIS/French Open: Ashley Harkleroad, at 18 years of age, is the new face of Nike in tennis. Daniela Hantuchova (20) must therefore be the old face of Nike in tennis. Where that leaves Anna Kournikova in terms of tennis faces is anyone's guess. Johnny Watterson reports from Roland Garros.

Just as well Hantuchova has earned $1,776,813 in prize money to date but even that will hardly ease the pain of going out of the tournament in the second round 7-6, 4-6, 9-7 to a player who has only recently been allowed to play full time on the professional tour because of her age.

After the troubled Jennifer Capriati, who turned professional at 14, the WTA decided to control the amount of tournaments in which young players are allowed to compete.

"It was like a birthday present for me on my 18th birthday, just to be able to play tournament after tournament," said the Harleroad, her elbow strapped because of tendonitis.

A natural fighter with a robust game suited to the clay, the difference in physique between the two players was arresting and not for the first time Hantuchova, with her steely coat hanger build, departed Paris with accusations still ringing in her ears that she is too thin to maximise her tennis talent. Her catwalk, waif like look has hotly attracted the glamour market but like Kournikova, her tennis may well be in the process of being damaged.

"Well, I think I just proved it being 1-5 down in the third that physically I'm really fit. I felt well out on court. It (defeat) had nothing to do with my physical side. I think more than anything it was the mental side that was not right," she countered before being asked directly whether there was a health issue concerning her.

"Not at all," she said. It was unconvincing, though, and the questions continued. Have you changed diet? Do you eat whatever you want? You said you've lost weight but it's going to come back?

"I'm blessed that I can eat what I want," she said. "I've been working really hard. I just burned more calories than I've actually got in my body. But I think it's something that will come back soon."

Wimbledon no doubt will be used as a barometer. The media pack is a mean animal. They'll probably bring callipers but for now the day belongs to Harkleroad, who won the first set 7-6 before dropping the second 6-4. Chasing everything down and presenting the hapless Hantuchova with enough balls to hit herself out of the match, Harkleroad was 5-1 up in the third and serving for the match before the Slovakian, who was in March of this year ranked fifth in the world, essayed a mini revival.

Shaken, the American rediscovered her range and in a tight finish finally closed the match 9-7 in the third after over three hours play.

"I was really excited because it was second round and I'd played her before three weeks ago and I'd beaten her. I was a little nervous because I knew I could (win) again," said Harkleroad, who was a finalist here last year in the junior competition.

"I've always been very feisty, a fighter. I think you're just kind of born with it. I really don't know where it came from. I'm going to fight every single match, every single day," she said.

There has been a lot of attention paid to your looks did that ever bother you, Harkleroad was asked before leaving.

"Well, a lot of people have compared me with Kournikova," she replied. Here we go again.