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REUTERS/Adrees Latif

I wouldn’t normally put “Anna Kournikova” and “the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command at North Kabul International Airport” together, but here you go:

Anna Kournikova and Nick Bollettieri landed in Kabul yesterday to take part in the annual USO holiday tour. The tennis star and her former coach will be spreading holiday cheer to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq for the next week, along with comedian Dave Attell and country star Billy Ray Cyrus. Why, yes, this is an eclectic group, but it’s always interesting to see tennis (over)represented in a non-tennis setting!

“I’m so excited and honored to work with the USO and participate in this tour,” Kournikova said.  “The troops dedicate their lives to protecting our country and to be able to visit and meet them is such an incredible honor.”

Anna is a USO vet, participating in her third tour of duty. This is the 78-year-old (!) Bollettieri’s first time, though he was stationed in Japan with the US Army (187th Airborne R.C.T. Paratroopers) in the 1950s. Between this and his recent trip to Ethiopia to adopt little Giovanni Pietro Bollettieri, Nick’s really racking up those frequent flier miles.

Here’s a little video of yesterday’s landing:

And some photos here.