Anna Kournikova: Biography
Anna Kournikova was born on 7 June 1981 in Moscow. Anna lives with her mother, Alla, in Florida to which state in the US she moved from Moscow at the age of 10. Father Sergei still lives in Russia. Often she returns to Russia to visit her family and friends. At the age of five Anna began playing tennis with her friends in a weekly children’s sports program. Playing her second year on the Tour, she defeated three Top 10 players. From there her career, like herself, blossomed. In February 1992, Anna was introduced by her mother to the famous Tennis Academy of Nick Bollettieri in Bradenton Florida. In 1997 she moved to Miami. Anna, who would like to be an actress if she was not playing tennis, has become the talking point of the many tennis fans around the world. Not only for her high skill in the game of tennis but also for her breathtaking looks that easily make her the most beautiful, attractive and sexy girl in the world of tennis.
Anna turned Pro in 1995 and joined the professionals in 1996 at the ‘US Open’ where she reached the fourth round, all at the age of 14. In 1996 Anna’s talent in the tennis arena became clear as she became the youngest player to compete and win in the Fed Cup competition, helping Russia defeat Sweden 3-0. As a qualifier, she won her first professional title at the ITF Women’s Circuit satellite event in Midland, Michigan, USA . After winning, she flew to Oklahoma City in time to win her first-round qualifying match that day. That year she was also named Corel WTA Tour Most Impressive Newcomer.
The year that her tennis career took off was in 1997 when she became the second woman in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon semifinals on her career debut in the tournament. Prior to the tournament, she had never reached a semifinal and had reached just one quarterfinal. Later that year she also collected her first win over a Top 10 player with her win over No. 6 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at Berlin.
On court her best shot is the drop shot, but her unexpected moves to the net and surprising changes in speed are also a major reason for her success. Anna believes that “I have control over all balls but I have to learn to win. With top tennis everything is your mental strength, you can win if you have that.”
No wonder she is a hot item for the world press. Don’t try to come too close to her, you will not succeed. Bodyguards are all around her. And in private- Mother is watching her very carefully.
Is Anna getting crazy about all the attention from the media? Anna: “Everybody always watch me the way I looks. That’s human nature. Maybe it will help if I get plastic surgery. People ask me: Why you’re looking so well on court? Why not just play? But to me, whenever I’m on the court, it’s like theatre, and I have to express myself. Why should I have to look ugly just because I’m an athlete. I think that tennis is a lady’s sport, so out there we should look like ladies.” “I just try to look after myself and really play. They wouldn’t come here if I couldn’t play.”
A highlight for Anna was the Australian Open in 1999. Here she won her first Grand Slam Title for doubles with her friend Martina Hingis. Anna’s deal with Adidas seems to be a lucky one, for her as for Adidas as well. In the past, companies have only had an interest in mens tennis. But after Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, the sisters Venus and Serena Williams and of course Anna Kournikova, they switched over. It’s big business. No wonder with her lovely smile, perfect athletic body, flowing blond hair, skimpy outfits and pouty poses Anna was named (1999) as one of the world’s most attractive sporting athletes.