|
Birth Name: Anya Kournikova Date of Birth: June 7, 1981 Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia Eye Color: Blue Height: 5 ' 8 " Family: Father: Sergei Mother: Alla Ex Husband: Enrique Iglesias
Anna Kournikova's father lectured at the sports university in Moscow, and was a part-time tennis coach, and Anna's talent was first discovered when she was 5, and she played at a weekly children's sports program. In 1992, 11-year-old Anna Kournikova moved to Florida to attend Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Bradenton. At 14, Anna had become the youngest player to win a Fed Cup match. When she turned pro in 1996, she stepped onto the scene as an ITF Junior World Champion. In 1997, she affirmed her position amongst the world's top players, highlighted by a semi-final appearance at her first Wimbledon as aprofessional. In 1998 Anna Kournikova became the first Russian female to be seeded at the U.S. Open since 1976. She became the ninth-youngest player to defeat a No. 1 tennis player, Martina Hingis, before turning 17 (since 1968). Anna won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 1999 Australian Open, with partner Martina Hingis.
In 2000, Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis continued on the courts, and ended the season with a career ranking of No. 8. At the 2000 German Open in May, she experienced the first in what would become a string of injuries. After 2003's Australian Open, she suffered a back injury which made her withdrawal from the Wimbledon games that year. In 2001, Anna kournikova played a motel manager in the film, Me, Myself & Irene, starring Jim Carrey. She also appeared opposite Enrique Iglesias in his music video Escape. By 2002, she was making $10 million a year, and is the most photographed woman in sports. Anna Kournikova made the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 2000 edition, and she was featured in the 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue for Sports Illustrated in 2004. Anna has also graced the cover of the August 2004 issue of Maxim. It is her second appearance on the Maxim cover.
Anna Kournikova secretly married singer Enrique Iglesias in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in december 2004. The couple met on the set of Enrique's video Escape, in which they were filmed kissing passionately. This is Annas second marriage. She has also ben married to NHL-player Sergej Fedorov. Anna was no. 29 on Maxim Magazine Hot 100 for 2005. She and Enrique seperated in the beginning of 2007.
|