Anna Kournikova
Beautiful Anna Kournikova is not just a pretty blonde and popular tennis player. She’s been considered an icon and a representation of today’s society values. Still, there’s an endless list to describe the world famous Anna Kournikova, aside from the fact that she’s among the highest-paid athletes in the sports industry.
The Tennis Story Of Ana Kournikova
Born 7th of June 1981 in Moscow, Anna Kournikova is a professional tennis player and a model. At an early age, Anna Kournikova was encouraged by her parents to participate in physical activities. After turning five, she received her first tennis racquet as a Christmas gift from her parents. This gift changed her life forever.
Anna started hitting at the Soklniki Park in Moscow, and soon became a member of the Spartalk Tennis Club. When Anna Kournikova was eight, she started playing in junior clinics that caught the attention of local “tennis scouts”.
In 1990, when ATP Tour was established in Moscow, Anna’s tennis skills had the opportunity to be showed off to the international community. At nine years old, she competed in juniors, and before long signed a management contract. In two years, she was headed to train with Nick Bolletierri’s prestigious tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida.
She was on the road to professional track, and at fourteen she became the youngest tennis player to win the Fed Cup competition, as well as capturing the Italian Open Juniors and European Championships. By the end of 1995, Anna Kournikova ranked number one, and was crowned ITF Junior World Champion. This time, she was ready to sweep the professional trail.
Soon after turning fifteen, she popped into the professional scene after a great deal of media fanfare, when she reached the 4th round of her first “Grand Slam” tournament in the US Open of 1996 and the semi-finals of her first appearance at the 1997 Wimbledon.
During the following years, Anna maintained a steady presence within top ten rankings for singles, and won the Grand Slam doubles with partner Martina Hingis at the 1999 Australian Open. Anna Kournikova tore through a match en route to her semifinal appearance in for the 2001 Australian Open held in Melbourne.
Anna has beaten almost every top tennis player in the women’s category, and she’s the only tennis player in the past fifteen years to defeat four successive top-ten players within the singles tournament. She did this while on her way to the 1998 finals held in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Anna Kournikova is probably the most “heavily” sponsored and well marketed female athlete in sports today. She also ranks as among the “biggest draws” on the whole tennis court, with games that are often well watched and sold out. She commanded “Standing-Room-Only” crowds during her Grand Slam games and frequently selling out exhibition games from Mahwah, New Jersey to her games in San Paulo, Brazil.
The Fashion Model Anna
Aside from her fame as a tennis player, Anna Kournikova is also one of the most popular models in the industry. With her sculpted figure and stunning appeal, Anna has dominated the fashion ads, billboards, calendars, and magazines, including stunning poses for Sports Illustrated and FHM.
In fact, when she became the cover of one of the issues of Sports Illustrated, it was among the “highest-selling issues” that was ever published by the magazine. Moreover, she’s also among the most photographed woman in the world of sports. Her beauty and talent has indeed made her one of the world’s most famous faces of today.
Anna Kournikova, with her contribution to sports and fashion, will indeed be forever written in the history of young talents who swept the tennis world with her beauty and skills.