Anna Kournikova Biography
Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova (born June 7, 1981) is a tennis player. She is one of the best known tennis players. Anna was born in Moscow, Russia to Alla and Sergei Kournikov; her family later emigrated to the United States, and she currently resides in Miami, Florida.
At age 13 and 14 Anna won several Junior tournaments including the 1995 Italian Open. Anna Kournikova was 14 years old when she won the Junior European Champion Under 18 and Junior World Champion U18 in '95. Kournikova debuted in professional tennis at age 14 in the Fed Cup for Russia, the youngest player ever to participate and win. At age 15, she reached the fourth round of the 1996 U.S. Open, only to be stopped by then-top ranked player Steffi Graf.
Anna was a member of the Russian delegation to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. As a 16-year old, she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Kournikova's first of two Grand Slam doubles titles came in 1999 at the Australian Open in the Women's Doubles event with partner Martina Hingis, with whom she played frequently. Kournikova proved a successful doubles player on the senior circuit, winning sixteen doubles titles, including two Australian Opens and being a finalist in mixed doubles at the US Open and Wimbledon, and reaching #1 in doubles in the Women's Tennis Association tour rankings.
Much of Anna's fame however, has come from publicity surrounding her personal life as well as numerous modelling shoots. During her debut at the US Open 1996 at age 15, Kournikova got noticed and soon pictures of her appeared in numerous magazines all over the world. A number of her relationships with other celebrities, including romantic involvement with pop star Enrique Iglesias (in whose video, Escape, she appeared) and with hockey star Sergei Fedorov, have featured prominently in the tabloid press. Photographs of her scantily-clad form have appeared in various men's magazines, including a much-publicized Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and other popular publications such as FHM and Maxim.
Kournikova was named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003. She has also been voted "hottest athlete" and "hottest couple" (with Enrique) on espn.com and "sexiest woman in the world" by FHM readers (2003). By contrast, ESPN -- citing the degree of hype as compared to actual accomplishments as a singles player -- ranked Anna 18th in its "25 Biggest Sports Flops of the Past 25 Years". Kournikova had a small role (as a motel manager) in the 2000 film Me, Myself and Irene, starring Jim Carrey.
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Anna Kournikova Photo Gallery |
Anna Kournikova Picture Gallery |
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