Anna Kournikova Biography

Tennis Player

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Anna Kournikova was a tennis sensation in the late 1990s, when her good looks and big blonde hair made her a fan favorite and a popular Internet pinup. Kournikova had played for Russia in the Federation Cup at age 14 and won her first professional title at 15, but by 1998 the talk was more about her looks than her backhand; People magazine named the 17-year-old one of that year's "50 Most Beautiful People." Kournikova won Grand Slam doubles titles in 1999 and 2002, both times teaming with Martina Hingis to win at the Australian Open. In 2000 the Web portal Lycos named her the Internet's most-searched athlete, and she ended the year ranked 9th in the world in singles. But that was the high point; 2003 was her last year on the World Tennis Federation circuit, and she never won a WTP singles title or made the finals of a major tournament. Since 2003 she has continued to play in charity tournaments and World Team Tennis events, and has been a spokesperson for K-Swiss tennis shoes and several other brands.

Extra credit: Kournikova began dating singer Enrique Iglesias in 2001, and they continued dating throughout the 2000s... Other tennis stars of the era include Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams, and Amanda Coetzer.

Kournikova joins Serena Williams in our loop on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models.

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