Tennis: Kournikova's match stopped after flare thrown on court

Anna Kournikova's doubles match at the Australian Open was interrupted by a flare thrown onto the court.

The 19-year-old Russian was playing with Barbara Schett against Shinobu Asagoe and Yuka Yoshida at Melbourne Park at the time.

A 15-year-old boy was caught by police after a short chase, but it is not yet known if he will have to face charges.

"I was hitting the ball and suddenly something just dropped in front of me," said Kournikova.

"The security people asked us to leave the court and go and sit in the corner. Apparently they caught two teenagers."

Kournikova insisted she was not frightened and on security levels at the championship commented: "I think in general it's pretty good.

"You can never see up front if something is going to happen. You can never predict anything."

Asked if anything similar has ever happened to her, Kournikova's mind went back to the time a streaker ran onto an outside court at Wimbledon while she was playing.

Partner Schett commented: "It was strange. I just saw Anna's eyes open big and I was like 'What's going on?' Then I saw the thing coming into the court. Everything was orange".

The pair were losing at the time, but after the hold-up gained a place in the quarter-finals against Williams sisters Venus and Serena.

Kournikova will also play defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the singles quarter-finals tomorrow.