Kournikova backs out again

Anna Kournikova will not be back playing regularly on the WTA Tour before the middle of August and may miss the US Open because of a persistent back problem.

The 22-year-old Russian player has informed organisers of events scheduled for the next two weeks at Palo Alto and San Diego that she will not be taking up wild cards, her agent, Phil de Picciotto, said.

"She won't play the Canadian Open in Toronto (starting on 11 August) but, if she's feeling better, may ask for a wild card into New Haven, which starts the week before the US Open (starting on 25 August)," he added.

Kournikova has a chronic sprain of the lumbar spine, a condition which is inoperable. "Anna is unable to play a consistent tour schedule with her back the way it is now and unless there is a marked improvement, her schedule will remain uncertain," said de Picciotto.

Kournikova is planning to get back on court this week, playing doubles and mixed doubles at a "World

TeamTennis" exhibition event in Pennsylvania.

"After this week, she'll know a lot better how she feels," de Picciotto said. "But even if she feels better, she's not in good enough shape to play regular tour events yet."

Since injuring her back at the Australian Open in January, Kournikova has played only a handful of tournaments and last competed at a challenger tour event in Charlottesville in mid-May.

The Russian attempted to play a grass court tournament in England ahead of Wimbledon but aggravated her back injury in practice and was advised to take up to six weeks off.