She may have retired from professional tennis, but Anna Kournikova has certainly lost none of her appeal. The glam gal, who turns 29 today, was named the hottest tennis player of all time by British tabloid The Sun, with the second place going to Maria Sharapova.
She may have retired from professional tennis, but Anna Kournikova has certainly lost none of her appeal. The glam gal, was named the hottest tennis player of all time by British tabloid The Sun, with the second place going to Maria Sharapova.
Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova is the only child of Sergei Kournikov (a lecturer at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow and part-time tennis coach) and Alla Kournikova. She was born in Moscow, Russia on June 7, 1981.
Anna's first tennis racquet was a Christmas gift from her parents when she was just 5. "I found my first racquets under the Christmas tree, but I found out later that my parents sold one of their TVs to get me those racquets," Anna said in an interview.
Her parents' modest income didn't stop Anna from playing tennis at Moscow's Soklniki Park and the high-class Spartak Tennis Club (coached by the husband of Russian pro Olga Morozova). From 1985 to 1989 she was coached by Larissa Preobraschenskaja and caught the attention of local tennis scouts at junior competitions.
1992 proved to be a turning point in her career when she moved to Florida with her mother and signed up with Nick Bollettieri's celebrated Tennis Academy in Bradenton that has produced stars like Monica Seles and Andre Agassi.
In 1995, 14-year-old Anna announced her arrival in world tennis. She became the youngest player to compete and win in Fed Cup competition, helping Russia defeat Sweden 3-0. With victories in the European Championships and Italian Open juniors, she ended the year as ITF Junior World Champion U-18 and Junior European Champion U-18. From this point onwards her professional career flourished.
After turning pro in 1995, Anna won two ITF singles tournaments, the 1st in Midland, Michigan, and the 2nd in Rockford, Illinois.
She won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 Australian Open, winning the doubles title with first-time partner Martina Hingis by upsetting the first and second seeds. She also reached the fourth round in singles.
Anna won her first WTA TOUR professional title in 1998 at the Princess Cup in Tokyo, winning the doubles crown with Monica Seles.
1998 was probably Anna's greatest year. She became the first Russian female player at the US Open since 1976 and reached the Top 10 of the singles rankings. She registered a win over Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals of the 1998 German Open and in the process became the ninth-youngest player to defeat a No. 1 tennis player before turning 17 (since 1968). She ended the year ranked #13 in singles and #10 in doubles.
Anna continued to improve her standing in the next two years. She was ranked #12 in singles and #1 in doubles in 1999 and a career-best #8 in singles and #4 in doubles in 2000.
Anna scored victories against nearly all the top ranked players on the women's tour, including Lindsay Davenport, Steffi Graff, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, Arantxa Sanchez and Martina Hingis.
Despite all her obvious talent, Anna never won a major singles title in her career. Her career best Grand Slam tournament singles results are: Australian Open quarterfinals in 2001, French Open 4th round in 1998 and 1999, Wimbledon semifinals in 1997, US Open 4th round in 1996 and 1998.
A left foot stress fracture forced her out of major tournaments in 2001 and her ranking had slipped to #74 in singles and #26 in doubles by the end of the year. Anna finished 2003 ranked #305 in singles and #176 in doubles.
The later part of her career was plagued by injuries, especially to her lower back, which forced her to quit professional tennis in March 2004.
Interestingly Anna fared much better as a doubles player during her career. She won 16 tournament doubles titles and reached the No.1 spot in doubles in the Women's Tennis Association tour rankings. Her pro career doubles record was 200-71. Compared to this, her singles record is 209-129. Anna's career prize money totals US$3,584,662.
While she has said goodbye to professional tennis, Anna still plays exhibition matches for charitable causes. In October 2008 she helped raise more than $400,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund by partnering Andy Roddick against Martina Navratilova and Jesse Levine.
Besides her work as spokesperson for the sports brand K-Swiss, Anna is keeping her options open for a comeback. According to some reports, she intends to partner Martina Hingis in the Invitational Ladies Doubles event at Wimbledon. If that happens, it will be the first time Anna plays competitive tennis in seven years.
Before getting into a relationship with singer Enrique Iglesias, Anna dated Russian hockey stars Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov. Federov even claimed that he had secretly married Anna in July 2001 and got divorced shortly after that. Anna's representatives have however denied she was ever married to Federov.
Anna began seeing Iglesias in 2001. She also appeared in his music video 'Escape'. The two have continued to deny rumours of a split and were spotted together taking a ride on their brand new power boat in Miami Beach, Florida in April 2010. The Russian tennis star even fueled pregnancy rumors by wearing a loose fitting dress as she left a restaurant with her beau.
The tennis beauty wowed her fans by wearing a saree during her visit to India in 2003. "It has been a very fascinating experience for me and I have enjoyed the hospitality of Indians and their culture has really interested me," Kournikova told reporters. She was also seen clad in a traditional ghagra choli for an Omega photocall.
Anna has never lacked for attention, both on and off the field. The blonde beauty was listed as one of People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People' four times, in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003. (Photo Courtesy: Maxim)
She was voted as #9 on the list of Top 100 Sexiest Women by FHM in 2004 and came in #29 on the 2005 Maxim magazine 'Hot 100' list.
She manages to look good both on and off the field and her sporty style with a sexy edge makes her stand out at every public appearance. Plunging necklines and a knee-length hem add to her natural allure.
There has been no shortage of celebrity brand endorsements for Anna. She has had a long association with footwear manufacturer K-Swiss and was seen in a stunning black and white Spring/Summer 2009 promotional campaign. (Photo Courtesy: K-Swiss)
Anna became the brand ambassador for Swiss watch manufacturer Omega in September 2000. She has appeared in various Omega ads, besides events all over the world, including Hong Kong, Dubai, Shanghai, Plymouth, Tapei City, Singapore, St. Moritz and Mexico City. (Photo Courtesy: Omega)
Berlei (manufacturer of the 'Shock Absorber' sports bra), was one of her sponsors and "Only the ball should bounce" ad campaign was launched prior to Wimbledon 2000. (Photo Courtesy: Berlei)
Anna appeared in the classic Marilyn Monroe blow up dress pose for a Adidas campaign that also starred English footballer David Beckham and Olympic Gold Medallist Ian Thorpe. (Photo Courtesy: Adidas)
Anna has sometimes made headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2006, her sudden weight loss sparked fears that she has an eating disorder. Gone was the shapely figure that had kept men around the world begging for more. In 2009 there were reports that Anna had got into a 'catfight' at Las Vegas nightclub. There was believed to have been a scuffle with an unnamed woman, that left the tennis star with scratches on her neck.
She has a sun design tattoo on her lower back, which first made its appearance at the 2003 Australia Open. Anna initially denied its existence, claiming it was a heat patch to treat back pain.
Nearly every top magazine in the world has featured Anna on its cover at one point or another. This includes Cosmopolitan, Maxim, FHM, Jane and GQ.
The most photographed woman in sports by 2002, Anna posed on the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 2000 edition and was featured in Sports Illustrated 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Special: American Beauty in 2004.
The glam gal of tennis was back for another Sports Illustrated fashion photoshoot in 2008. (Photo Courtesy: Sports Illustrated)
Kournikova Quick Facts: Her nickname is 'Murzik'. It means 'my little pet' in Russian.
Kournikova Quick Facts: In December 2003, Anna sold her Miami beach condo at Portofino Tower to Russian hockey star and former boyfriend Sergei Fedorov for $1.63 million.
Kournikova Quick Facts: In September 2003, Anna worked as an on-site reporter for the US networks coverage of the US Open.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Anna owns a Doberman called Genie.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Anna has appeared as a character witness in a murder trial involving her former minder.
Kournikova Quick Facts: If Anna wasn't a professional tennis player, she would probably have been an actress. In 2005, she stated she wanted to pursue a movie career.
Kournikova Quick Facts: She likes to dance, read, listen to music and watch television.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Anna is partial to Sushi and her favourite colour is black.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Paris is Anna's most favourite city in the world and she has a special fondness for the French Open and Wimbledon tennis tournaments.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Her other sports interests include NBA basketball and ice hockey.
Kournikova Quick Facts: Anna stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and her measurements in 2004 were 32B - 24 - 34.
Kournikova Quotes: "It's true I always try to be as seductive as possible but I wouldn't be here if I couldn't play tennis."
Kournikova Quotes: "It's not really a shorter skirt, I just have longer legs..."
Kournikova Quotes: "Do I consider myself sexy? It all depends on the way I'm feeling. When I'm happy inside, that's when I feel most sexy."
Kournikova Quotes: "I have a lot of boyfriends, I want you to write that. Every country I visit, I have a different boyfriend. And I kiss them all."
Kournikova Quotes: "The world believes all blondes are stupid and brunettes are smarter. Well, I disagree."
Kournikova Quotes: "I'm like a menu at an expensive restaurant. You can look at me, but you can't afford me." (Photo Courtesy: Maxim)
