World's Beautiful Women : Collection

Name : Anna Kournikova
Date of Birth : June 7, 1981
Place of Birth : Moscow, Russia
Sign : Sun in Gemini, Moon in Leo
Height : 5' 8''
Weight : 123 lbs.
Lives : Miami, Florida, USA
Profession : Tennis Player
Father : Sergei Kournikov
Mother : Alla Kournikov
Coach : Pavel Slozil
Fan Mail : Anna Kournikova
c/o Bollettieri Tennis
Academy 5500 34th St.
West Bradenton, FL 34210 USA
Real Name : Anya Kournikova


Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova (Russian: born 7 June 1981) is a Russian professional tennis player and model. Her celebrity status made her one of the best known tennis players worldwide. At the peak of her fame, fans looking for images of Kournikova made her name one of the most common search strings on the Internet search engine Google.

Although also successful in singles, reaching No. 8 in the world in 2000, Kournikova's specialty has been doubles, where she has at times been the World No. 1 player. With Martina Hingis as her partner, she won Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002. Based on their looks, Hingis and Kournikova facetiously referred to themselves as the "Spice Girls of Tennis". Kournikova's professional tennis career has been curtailed for the past several years, and possibly ended, by serious back and spinal problems. She currently resides in Miami Beach, Florida, and plays in occasional exhibitions and in doubles for the St. Louis Aces of World Team Tennis.

Early Life

Anna was born in Moscow, Soviet Union, on 7 June 1981. Her father, Sergei Kournikov was 20 at the time.[6] Sergei, a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion, had earned a Ph.D and was a professor at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow. As of 2001, he was still a part-time martial arts instructor there.[6] Her mother Alla, a sturdily built blonde who was 18 when Anna was born, had been a 400-metre runner.[6]

Sergei said: "We were young and we liked the clean, physical life, so Anna was in a good environment for sport from the beginning."[6] The family name is spelled in Russian without an "o", so a direct translation would be "Kurnikova", and it is sometimes written that way. But it is pronounced "Kournikova", so the family chose that as their English spelling.[6]

Anna received her first tennis racquet as a New Year gift in 1986 at age 5.[6] Anna says: "I played two times a week from age five. It was a children's program. And it was just for fun; my parents didn't know I was going to play professionally, they just wanted me to do something because I had lots of energy. It was only when I started playing well at seven that I went to a professional academy. I would go to school, and then my parents would take me to the club, and I'd spend the rest of the day there just having fun with the kids."[6] In 1986, Anna became a member of the prestigious Spartak Tennis Club, coached by Larissa Preobrazhenskaya.[7] In 1989, at the age of eight, Anna began appearing in junior tournaments, and by the following year, was attracting attention from tennis scouts across the world. Anna signed a management deal at age ten and went to Bradenton, Florida to train at Nick Bollettieri's celebrated tennis academy.

Tennis career

1989–1997: Early years and breakthrough

Following her arrival in the United States, Anna exploded onto the tennis scene, making her the internationally recognized tennis star she is today.[7] At the age of 14, she went on to win the European Championships and the Italian Open Junior tournament. Anna also beat out the competition to win the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl, becoming the youngest player ever to win the 18 and under division at that tournament. By the end of the year, Anna was crowned the ITF Junior World Champion U-18 and Junior European Champion U-18.[7]

In 1994, Anna Kournikova received a wild card into ITF tournament in Moscow qualifications, but lost to the third seed Sabine Appelmans.[8] She debuted in professional tennis at age 14 in the Fed Cup for Russia, the youngest player ever to participate and win.[7] In 1995, she turned pro, and won two ITF titles, in Midland, Michigan and Rockford, Illinois. The same year Kournikova reached her first WTA Tour doubles final at the Kremlin Cup. Partnering with 1995 Wimbledon girls' champion in both singles and doubles Aleksandra Olsza, she lost to Meredith McGrath and Larisa Neiland with 6–0, 6–1.

At age 15, she made her grand slam debut, when she reached the fourth round of the 1996 U.S. Open, only to be stopped by then-top ranked player, Steffi Graf, eventual champion. After this tournament, her ranking jumped from No. 144 to debut in Top 100 at No. 69.[8] Kournikova was a member of the Russian delegation to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1996, she was named WTA Newcomer of the Year,[7] and she was ranked No. 57 in the end of the season.[1]

Kournikova entered the 1997 Australian Open as World No. 67.[9] However, she lost in the first round to World No. 12 Amanda Coetzer 6–2, 6–2. She also partnered with Russian fellow Elena Likhovtseva at women's doubles event, but also lost in the first round, to eight seeds Chanda Rubin and Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–2, 6–3.[9] Kournikova reached the second round at the Pacific Life Open; after beating Patricia Hy-Boulais in the first round 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, she lost to World No. 3 Anke Huber in the second round 3–6, 6–2, 6–2. In doubles, Kournikova and Likhovtseva beat the second seeds Larisa Neiland and Helena Suková in the second 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, before losing to Mary Joe Fernández and Chanda Rubin in the quartefinals 2–6, 6–4, 7–5/[9] At Miami Open Kournikova defeated No. 12 Amanda Coetzer 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 in the second round, and No. 29 Katarina Studenikova 1–6, 6–4, 6–0 in the third, and then lost to No. 3 Jana Novotná 6–3, 6–4 in the fourth. She and Likhovtseva were beaten 6–4, 6–3 by Dominique Monami and Barbara Rittner in the first round of Miami doubles.[9] After beating Shi-Ting Wang in the first round of Italian Open with 6–3, 6–4, Kournikova lost to Amanda Coetzer 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 in the second. However, she reached the semifinals partnering with Likhovtseva, after they defeated the first seeds Neiland and Suková 6(4)–7, 6–2, 7–5 in the second round, and Barbara Schett and Patty Schnyder 7–6(2), 6–4 in the third, before losing to the sixth seeds Mary Joe Fernández and Patricia Tarabini 7–6(5), 6–3.[9]

Kournikova was then defeated in the quarterfinals of German Open by Mary Joe Fernández 6–1, 6–4, after she defeated former World No. 1 and current World No. 5 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 3–6, 6–0, 6–3 in the third round.[9] Partnering with Likhovtseva, she also reached the doubles quarterfinals, beating the sixth seeds Alexandra Fusai and Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 7–6(2) in the second round and losing to the first seeds Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva 6–2, 7–5. At the 1997 French Open Kournikova defeated Radka Zrubáková 6–3, 6–2 in the first round and Sandra Cecchini 6–2, 6–2 in the second and then lost to World No. 1 Martina Hingis 6–1, 6–3 in the third. She also reached the third round in doubles with Likhovtseva, losing to domestic team and the eight seeds Fusai and Tauziat. At 1997 Wimbledon Championships Anna Kournikova became the only second woman in the open era to reach the semifinals, which was also her first WTA Tour semifinals, in her Wimbledon debut, the first being Chris Evert in 1972.[8] She defeated Chanda Rubin 6–1, 6–1 in the first round, Barbara Rittner 4–6, 7–6(7), 6–3 in the second, the seventh seed Anke Huber 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 in the third, Helena Suková 2–6, 6–2, 6–3 in the fourth, No. 4 and the French Open champion Iva Majoli 7–6(1), 6–4 in the quarterfinals and then lost to eventual champion Martina Hingis by a score of 6–3, 6–2.

Kournikova then lost to Anke Huber 6–0, 6–1 in the first round of the Los Angeles Open, also reaching the doubles semifinals with Ai Sugiyama. At the 1997 US Open she lost in the second round to the eleventh seed Irina Spîrlea 6–1, 3–6, 6–3. Partnering with Likhovtseva, she reached the third round of women's doubles event, losing 6–4, 6–4 to the second seeds Hingis and Sánchez Vicario.[9] Kournikova played her last WTA Tour event in 1997 at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, losing to Amanda Coetzer 3–6 6–3 6–4 in the second round of singles, and 6–2, 6–4 in the first round of doubles to Lindsay Davenport and Jana Novotná with Likhovtseva. She broke into the top 50 on 19 May, and was ranked No. 32 in singles and No. 41 in doubles at the end of the season.[10]

1998–2000: Success and stardom

Anna Kournikova, practices her backhand for a match at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, where hundreds of Charleston Air Force Base (AFB) personnel volunteer to provide security.

In 1998 Kournikova broke into the WTA's top 20 rankings for the first time, when she was ranked No. 16. She also scored impressive victories over Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. Kournikova began her 1998 season in Hannover, where she lost to the first seed Jana Novotná in the semifinals with 6–3, 6–3. She also partnered Larisa Neiland in doubles, and lost to Elena Likhovtseva and Caroline Vis in the quarterfinals 3–6, 6–2, 7–5.[9] She then reached the second round of both singles and doubles at the Medibank International in Sidney, losing to Lindsay Davenport in the second round of singles with 6–2, 6(4)–7, 6–3. At the 1998 Australian Open Kournikova lost in the third round to World No. 1 player Martina Hingis 6–4, 4–6, 6–4. She also partnered with Larisa Neiland in women's doubles, and they lost to eventual champions Hingis and Mirjana Lučić 7–5, 6–2 in the second round.[9] Although she lost in the second round of Paris Open to Anke Huber in singles, Kournikova reached the her second doubles WTA Tour final partnering with Larisa Neiland. They lost to Sabine Appelmans and Miriam Oremans 1–6, 6–3, 7–6(3). Kournikova and Neiland reached their second consecutive final at Linz Open, losing to Alexandra Fusai and Nathalie Tauziat 6–3, 3–6, 6–4. In singles, Kournikova reached the third round. At the Pacific Life Open, she reached the third round and lost to 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez 6–3, 6–4, and also reached the doubles quarterfinals with Neiland. Although she reached the doubles quarterfinals with Neiland, Kournikova made a greater success in singles at the Miami Open, reaching her first WTA Tour singles final. After beating Mirjana Lučić 6–4, 6–2 in the first round, former World No. 1 Monica Seles 7–5, 6–4 in the second, Conchita Martínez 6–3, 6–0 in the third, Lindsay Davenport 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 in the quarterfinals, and former No. 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 3–6, 6–1, 6–3 in the semifinals, and then lost to Venus Williams in the final with 2–6, 6–4, 6–1.[8]

Kournikova then reached two consecutive quarterfinals, at Amelia Island and Italian Open, losing, respectively, 7–5, 6–3 to Lindsay Davenport, and 6–2, 6–4 to Martina Hingis. At the German Open, she reached the semifinals in both singles and doubles, with Larisa Neiland, losing 6–0, 6–1 to Conchita Martínez and 6–1, 6–4 to Alexandra Fusai and Nathalie Tauziat, respectively. At the 1998 French Open Kournikova reached her best result at this tournament, losing to Jana Novotná 6(2)–7, 6–3, 6–3 in the fourth round. She also reached her first grand slam doubles semifinals, losing with Neiland to Lindsay Davenport and Natasha Zvereva 6–3, 6–2. During her quarterfinals match at the Eastbourne Open versus Steffi Graf, Kournikova injured her thumb, which would eventually force her to withdraw from the 1998 Wimbledon Championships.[8] However, she won that match 6(4)–7, 6–3, 6–4, but then withdraw from her semifinals match against Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.[8] Kournikova returned for the Du Maurier Open, defeating Alexandra Fusai and Ruxandra Dragomir before losing to Conchita Martínez in the third round 6–0, 6–3. At the Pilot Pen Tennis in New Haven she lost to Amanda Coetzer 1–6, 6–4, 7–5 in the second round. At the 1998 US Open Kournikova reached the fourth round and lost to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario. She then made a series of low results at Toyota Princess Cup, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Zürich Open and Kremlin Cup, but due to good results during the year, she qualified for the 1998 WTA Tour Championships. She lost to Monica Seles in the first round 6–4, 6–3. However, with Seles, she won her first doubles title, in Tokyo, beating Mary Joe Fernández and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–4, 6–4 in the final. At the end of the season, she was ranked No. 10 in doubles.[10]

Kournikova began her 1999 season at Adidas Open, where she lost to Dominique Van Roost in the second round.[10] She then played at the Australian Open, losing to Mary Pierce 6–0, 6–4 in the fourth round. However, Kournikova won her first doubles grand slam title, partnering Martina Hingis. The two defeated Lindsay Davenport and Natasha Zvereva in the final. Kournikova then lost in the quarterfinals of Toray Pan Pacific Open to Monica Seles 7–5, 6–3. In Oklahoma City she was defeated by Amanda Coetzer 6–4, 6–2 in the semifinals, by Silvia Farina Elia in the first round of Evert Cup, and by Barbara Schett at Lipton Championships. At Tier I Family Circle Cup, Kournikova reached her second WTA Tour final, but lost to Martina Hingis 6–4, 6–3.[10] She then defeated Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder on her route to the Bausch & Lomb Championships semifinals, losing to Ruxandra Dragomir 6–3, 7–5. After round robin results at Italian Open and German Open, Kournikova reached the fourth round of 1999 French Open, losing to eventual champion Steffi Graf 6–3, 7–6.[10] She then lost to Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 in the semifinals in Eastbourne. At 1999 Wimbledon Championships, Kournikova lost to Venus Williams in the fourth round 3–6, 6–3, 6–2. She also reached the 1999 Wimbledon final in mixed doubles, partnering with Jonas Björkman, but they lost to Leander Paes and Lisa Raymond 6–4, 3–6, 6–3. Kournikova qualified for 1999 WTA Tour Championships, but lost to Mary Pierce 6(3)–7, 7–6(5), 6–0 in the first round, and ended the season as World No. 12.[10] Also at times during 1999, she was the most searched athlete in the world on Yahoo!, the premier search engine of the day.[11] Kournikova was more successful in doubles that season. After their victory at the Australian Open, she and Martina Hingis won tournaments in Indian Wells, Rome, Eastbourne and 1999 WTA Tour Championships, and reached the final of 1999 French Open, where they lost to Serena and Venus Williams 3–6, 7–6(2), 6–8. Partnering with Elena Likhovtseva, Kournikova also reached the final in Stanford. On 22 November 1999 she reached World No. 1 ranking in doubles, and ended the season at this ranking. Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis were presented with the WTA Award for Doubles Team of the Year.

Kournikova opened her 2000 season winning the Gold Coast Open partnering with Julie Halard. She then reached the singles semifinals at Medibank International Sydney, losing to Lindsay Davenport 6–3, 6–2. At the 2000 Australian Open, she reached the fourth round in singles and the semifinals in doubles. Partnering with Barbara Schett, they lost to Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs. That season, Kournikova reached eight semifinals (Sydney, Scottsdale, Stanford, San Diego, Luxembourg, Leipzig and 2000 WTA Tour Championships), seven quarterfinals (Gold Coast, Tokyo, Amelia Island, Hamburg, Eastbourne, Zürich and Philadelphia) and one final. Despite being a domestic player, Kournikova lost to Martina Hingis 6–3, 6–1 in the final of Kremlin Cup. On 20 November 2000 she finally broke into top 10 for the first time, reaching No. 8.[10] She was also ranked #4 in doubles at the end of the season.[10] Kournikova was, once again, more successful in doubles. She reached the final of the 2000 US Open in mixed doubles, partnering with Max Mirnyi, but they lost to Jared Palmer and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–4, 6–3. She also won six doubles titles — Gold Coast (with Julie Halard), Hamburg (with Natasha Zvereva), Filderstadt, Zürich, Philadelphia and the 2000 WTA Tour Championships (with Martina Hingis).

2001–2003: Injuries and final years

Her 2001 season was dominated by injury, including a left foot stress fracture which forced her withdrawal from twelve tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon.[8] She underwent surgery in April.[8] She reached her second career grand slam quarterfinals, at the Australian Open. Kournikova then withdrew from several events due to continuing problems with her left foot and did not return until Leipzig. With Barbara Schett, she won the doubles title in Sydney. She then lost in the finals in Tokyo, partnering with Iroda Tulyaganova, and at San Diego, partnering with Martina Hingis. Hingis and Kournikova also won the Kremlin Cup. At the end of the 2001 season, she was ranked #74 in singles and #26 in doubles.[10]
Anna Kournikova playing at the Medibank International Sydney in 2002.

Kournikova was quite successful in 2002. She reached the semifinals of Auckland, Tokyo, Acapulco and San Diego, and the finals of China Open, losing 6–2, 6–3 to Anna Smashnova. This was Kournikova's last singles finals and the last chance to win a single title. With Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova lost in the finals of Sydney, but they won their second grand slam title together, Australian Open in women's doubles. They also lost in the quarterfinals of U.S. Open. With Chanda Rubin, Anna Kournikova played the semifinals of Wimbledon, but they lost to Serena and Venus Williams. Partnering Janet Lee, she won the Shangai title. At the end of 2002 season, she was ranked #35 in singles and #11 in doubles.[10]

In 2003, Anna Kournikova collected her first grand slam match victory in two years at the Australian Open. She defeated Henrieta Nagyová in the 1st round, and then lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the 2nd round. She withdrew from Tokyo due to a sprained back suffered at Australian Open and did not return to Tour until Miami. Kournikova retired in the 1st round of the Charleston due to a left adductor strain. She reached the semifinals at the ITF tournament in Sea Island, before withdrawing from a match versus Maria Sharapova due to the adductor injury. She lost in the 1st round of the ITF tournament in Charlottesville. She did not compete for the rest of the season due to a continuing back injury At the end of the 2003 season and her professional career, she was ranked #305 in singles and #176 in doubles.[10]

Kournikova's two Grand Slam doubles titles came in 1999 and 2002, both at the Australian Open in the Women's Doubles event with partner Martina Hingis, with whom she played frequently starting in 1999. Kournikova proved a successful doubles player on the professional circuit, winning 16 tournament doubles titles, including two Australian Opens and being a finalist in mixed doubles at the U.S. Open and at Wimbledon, and reaching the No.1 ranking in doubles in the Women's Tennis Association tour rankings. Her pro career doubles record was 200–71. However, her singles career plateaued after 1999. For the most part, she managed to retain her ranking between 10 and 15 (her career high singles ranking was No.8), but her expected finals breakthrough failed to occur; she only reached four finals out of 130 singles tournaments, never in a Grand Slam event, and never won one.

Her singles record is 209–129. Her final playing years were marred by a string of injuries, especially back injuries, which caused her ranking to erode gradually. As a personality Kournikova was among the most common search strings for both articles and images in her prime.[2][3][4] She continues to be the most searched athlete in the world.[12][13][14][15]

2004–present: Exhibitions and World Team Tennis

Kournikova interacts on stage before a crowd of U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines during a USO-sponsored tour at Forward Operating Base Sharana, December 15, 2009.

Kournikova has not played on the WTA Tour since 2003, but still plays exhibition matches for charitable causes. In late 2004, she participated in three events organized by Elton John and by fellow tennis players Serena Williams and Andy Roddick. In January 2005, she played in a doubles charity event for the Indian Ocean tsunami with John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and Chris Evert. In November 2005, she teamed up with Martina Hingis, playing against Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur in the WTT finals for charity. Kournikova is also a member of the St. Louis Aces in the World Team Tennis (WTT), playing doubles only.

In September 2008, Kournikova showed up for the 2008 Nautica Malibu Triathlon held at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.[16] The Race raised funds for children's Hospital Los Angeles. She won that race for women's K-Swiss team.[16] On 27 September 2008, Kournikova played exhibition matches in Charlotte, North Carolina; she played two mixed doubles matches.[17] She partnered Tim Wilkison and Karel Novacek.[17] Kournikova and Wilkinson defeated Jimmy Arias and Chanda Rubin, and then Kournikova and Novacek defeated Chanda Rubin and Tim Wilkison.[17]

On 12 October 2008, Anna Kournikova played one exhibitional match for the annual charity event, hosted by Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John, raised more than $400,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.[18] She played doubles with Andy Roddick (they were coached by Sir Elton John) versus Martina Navratilova and Jesse Levine (coached by Billie Jean King); Kournikova and Roddick won 5–4(3).[18]

Kournikova competed alongside John McEnroe, Tracy Austin and Jim Courier at the Legendary Night, which was held on 2 May 2009, at the Turning Stone Event Center, Verona, NY.[19] The legendary night of tennis consisted of a grudge match between McEnroe and Courier in singles followed by a mixed doubles match of McEnroe and Austin against Courier and Kournikova.

She is the current K-Swiss spokesperson.[20] In a feature for ELLE magazine's July 2005 issue, Kournikova stated that if she were 100% fit, she would like to come back and compete again.

On the 5th May 2010 it was announced that Kournikova would reunite with her doubles partner Martina Hingis and participate in competitve tennis for the 1st time in 7 years in the Invitational Ladies Doubles event at Wimbledon[2

Playing Style

As a player, Kournikova was noted for her footspeed and aggressive baseline play, and excellent angles and dropshots; however, her relatively flat, high-risk groundstrokes tended to produce frequent errors, and her serve was sometimes unreliable in singles.

Kournikova holds her racket in her right hand but uses both hands when she plays backhand shots.[1] She is a good player at the net.[23] She can hit forceful groundstrokes and also drop shots.[24]

Her playing style fits the profile for a doubles player, and is complemented by her height.[25] She has been compared to such doubles specialists as Pam Shriver and Peter Fleming.

Personal Life

Kournikova's marital status has been an issue on several occasions. There were conflicting rumors about whether she was engaged to ice hockey player Pavel Bure. There were reports that she married NHL ice hockey star Sergei Fedorov in 2001. Kournikova's representatives have denied this, but Fedorov stated in 2003 that the couple had married and since divorced.

Kournikova started dating pop star Enrique Iglesias in late 2001 (she appeared in his video, "Escape"), and rumors that the couple had secretly married circulated in 2003 and again in 2005. Kournikova herself has consistently refused to directly confirm or deny the status of her personal relationships. But in May 2007, Enrique Iglesias was (mistakenly, as he would clarify later) quoted in the New York Sun that he had no intention of marrying Kournikova and settling down because they had split up. The singer would later deny these rumors of "divorce" or simply separation. In June 2008, Iglesias told the Daily Star that he had married Kournikova the previous year and that they are currently separated.[26] Enrique has stated in interviews after that it was simply a joke,[27] and they are still very much together.

Kournikova has a younger brother, Allan.[28] She became an American citizen in late 2009.

Career statistics and awards

* 1996: WTA Newcomer of the Year
* 1999: WTA Doubles Team of the Year (with Martina Hingis)
* 2002: ESPN Hottest Female Athlete

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