Russian Anna Kournikova's service performance in her Australian Open first-round match has become the topic of conversation in the women's locker room.

``I turned the match on myself to see if it was still happening, if it was possible,'' No 1 Lindsay Davenport said today. ``It has to be mental. I mean, something is definitely wrong technically with the serve but to miss them as badly as she does, I don't know what is going on. She definitely needs to change it soon.''

Kournikova sent down 23 double faults in beating American qualifier Jill Craybas yesterday. In her last three matches of 1998, all losses, she gave up 56 double faults.

Davenport said she would not offer Kournikova advice, but that she could expect to get it from Martina Hingis if the 17-year-old serves badly when the two begin their doubles matches.

Win they did -- instraight sets against Czech Eva Melicharova and British Julie Pullin -- as Kournikova had seven double faults.