Tennis phenom Anna Kournikova, who lit up the scene in the late ’90s and into the new millennium, transcended the sport. From gracing magazine covers to appearing in movies, owning the catwalks, and dazzling on high-profile courts like Wimbledon and Roland Garros, the Russian star did it all.
She hit superstardom, becoming a hot search on Google, as her charm and talent earned her the nickname “Spice Girls of tennis” with partner Martina Hingis. Still, one ponders – why did Kournikova leave the professional ranks at the tender age of 21?
Now 43, Kournikova’s journey has moved away from the vibrant tennis landscapes. Born to sports-minded parents in 1981 Moscow — her dad a physical education scholar and her mom a star sprinter — athletics is in her DNA. Her half-brother Allan also inherited the sports gene, currently making waves in golf, reports Wales Online.
Tennis stardom
Having picked up a racket at five years of age and entering competitions by eight, Kournikova’s early signs of brilliance landed her an agency deal by age 10, prompting her move to Florida’s eminent Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for training.
She quickly climbed the ladder in junior tennis and turned pro in 1995. Kournikova left a lasting mark when she made it to the fourth round of the US Open the following year and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals at just 16.
Throughout her career, Kournikova found more success in doubles than singles, reaching the top spot with Hingis and becoming a household name in tennis and beyond. However, as the new millennium began, she started to battle injuries.
Damaging injuries and post-tennis career
A stress fracture in her left foot led her to miss 12 tournaments, slowing her progress on the international stage. By 2001, she was ranked No. 74 in singles and No. 26 in doubles globally.
Later, back and abductor issues further affected her career, and by the end of 2003, she had dropped out of the world’s top 300 tennis players. Sadly, she was forced to retire that year, just eight years after turning pro.
However, in 2010, she teamed up with Hingis again to compete in the Invitational Ladies’ Doubles event at Wimbledon, marking her first competitive tennis match in seven years.
(Image: PA)
Outside of tennis, Kournikova became a regular feature on magazine covers, including FHM and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2002, she was voted the world’s sexiest woman, beating out celebrities like Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.
She also had a minor role in the cult comedy classic Me, Myself and Irene in 2000, sharing the screen with Hollywood big shots Jim Carrey and Rene Zellweger. Kournikova also tried her hand at TV presenting, featuring on NBC’s The Biggest Loser show as a celebrity trainer.
Romantic relationships
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were murmurs of a romance between Kournikova and fellow Russian sports star Pavel Bure. Despite their high-profile status in Russia, they brushed off any rumours of an engagement.
Before she retired from tennis, Kournikova was making waves in mainstream media through various ventures. In 2001, she starred in the music video for Enrique Iglesias’ hit ‘Escape’. The chemistry on screen turned into a real-life romance, and the pair started dating. They are still together today and are now married.
(Image: Instagram)
Despite being together for over two decades, they rarely talk about their relationship publicly. They have three children and lead a private life away from the public eye that marked their early careers.
Their twins, Nicholas and Lucy, were born in 2017, followed by their sister Mary in 2020. The family resides in Miami, Florida, and Kournikova maintains a low-key presence on social media, occasionally posting on Instagram.
Net worth
Sportskeeda estimates Kournikova’s net worth to be around $50million. Her earnings from tennis reportedly totalled about $3.5m, but the majority of her wealth comes from lucrative sponsorship deals.
In the early 2000s, she teamed up with big names like Adidas, Omega, and Berlei, raking in more cash from these partnerships than her tennis wins. She’s also been a keen participant in charity work, playing in exhibition tennis matches to help raise awareness for causes such as AIDS.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
