Anna faces 'naked' stalker in court

Anna Kournikova came face to face with a man who stalked her while naked. The 23-year-old tennis star told an American court of her terror after homeless William Lepeska waged a six-month campaign of harassment.

She said: "I was absolutely shocked and fearful and I was very much concerned for my safety. It was very frightening and scary and just knowing there is someone out there who's obsessive."

Kournikova had to answer questions from Lepeska, who has a history of mental illness, in the courtroom in Miami as he was conducting his own defence. He said: "This will be my last chance to address her. I have questions here."

Many went unanswered as her lawyers objected, but some were permitted.

He asked: "Ms Kournikova, do you have any secret prejudices against Americans?" She replied: "Absolutely not, I love this country and I've been living here since 1991."

In court, Lepeska apologised saying: "I had all kinds of delusional assumptions about Anna's feelings towards me."

He was ordered by a judge to stay at least 1,000 feet away from Kournikova as she was granted a permanent restraining order.

Lepeska, who has an "Anna" tattoo on one arm, was arrested in January after allegedly swimming naked across Biscayne Bay towards Kournikova's £2.7 million estate.

Police swooped after Lepeska, who once stabbed a sleeping student, was found at the wrong house screaming: "Anna! Save me!". Before that he had sent a series of sexually explicit letters and emails to the Russianborn-star via her website. According to court papers, Lepeska joined a tennis club in Miami where Kournikova practises and planned to travel to Los Angeles to see her at a benefit event, the court was told.

In one letter, Lepeska explained that if they "were lovers we would have no need for other people, food or water," according to court papers.

Kournikova revealed that she hired bodyguards and increased security at her home following his arrest.

Lepeska, 40, who has since been locked up in a psychiatric unit, faces up to 30 years behind bars if convicted of attacking two policemen, resisting arrest and burglary. He also faces a string of charges for stalking, indecent exposure and criminal mischief. He has denied all the charges.