Who cares if hot Anna could play?
KOURNIKOVA WILL ALWAYS BE OUR FAVOURITE TENNIS PLAYER
SHE may not have won a single tournament in her career but who could ever forget the lovely Anna Kournikova?
In a sport dominated by grunting former Soviets, this Russian brought a touch of glamour to the courts.
And when she played at Wimbledon, you could hear the camera clicks above any applause from the crowd.
Viewing figures soared with lone gentleman making sure they got the best conditions to watch the telly by closing their curtains.
Despite never winning a singles title, Kournikova transcended the sport, becoming a global icon of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Her story is one of meteoric rise, media frenzy, and a pivot from sports to other ventures that has kept her in the public eye long after her retirement from tennis.
Born on 7 June 1981 in Moscow, Anna Kournikova’s athletic journey began at the age of five.
Her potential was evident early on, prompting her move to Nick Bollettieri’s famed Tennis Academy in Florida at just 10 years old.
Kournikova’s professional career took off in 1995, and by 1996 she had already claimed her doubles title.
Her agility on the court, coupled with an aggressive playstyle, quickly made her a formidable opponent.
However, it was the year 1997 that proved pivotal; at just 16, Kournikova reached the semi- finals of Wimbledon, catapulting her into the tennis elite.
This achievement made her one of the most watched and talked- about players on the tour. Throughout her career, Kournikova’s athletic prowess was overshadowed by her off- court persona.
The media’s fascination
with her looks became as much a part of her story as her forehands and volleys.
Alongside Martina Hingis, Kournikova became part of the “Spice Girls of Tennis,” winning the Australian Open in 1999 and 2002. So she wasn’t just a pretty face and everything else.
Injuries, however, plagued Kournikova’s career.
Chronic back problems began affecting her by the early 2000s, leading to a decline in her playing ability and her premature exit from the sport – leading many men to suddenly lose interest in the sport.