ANNA KOURNIKOVA - ANNA FACES HER STALKER IN COURT

LATEST: Tennis ace ANNA KOURNIKOVA has come face to face with the man accused of stalking her in a Miami, Florida, courtroom - after he insisted on cross-examining her.

The sports star was forced to re-read threatening letters WILLIAM LEPESKA, 40, sent her before his arrest on 30 January (05) after he reportedly swam naked across Florida's Biscayne Bay in search of the Russian stunner's waterfront mansion.

In court yesterday (23FEB05) Kournikova explained the letters were very "frightening and scary".

But Lepeska, acting as his own attorney, fired questions at the tennis star, asking, "Why is it that you and your team did not address the author of the letters?" to which Kournikova responded, "I didn't want to encourage any kind of action between me and that person."

Lepeska even suggested the Russian had racial issues, asking, "Do you have any secret prejudice against Americans?" as TV cameras rolled.

Kournikova ignored "objection" cries from her own attorney, insisting, "Absolutely not. I love this country and I've been living here since 1991."

Lepeska, who had begun proceedings by defiantly stating, "If you think I'm just a despicable homeless person, you're wrong," insisted on making a statement after Kournikova was awarded a restraining order against him.

He said, "If I had known she had no such feelings for me, I would never have gone there. I regret it. I sincerely apologise."

Lepeska, who still has to face stalking charges, could be sentenced to 30 years in prison if he's convicted.