Anna Kournikova

Anna Kournikova
Анна Курникова
Kournikova at Bagram Air Base during a 2009 USO tour
Born (1981-06-07) 7 June 1981 (age 43)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
PartnerEnrique Iglesias (2001–present)

Tennis career
Country (sports)Russia
ResidenceMiami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Turned proOctober 1995
RetiredMay 2003
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$3,584,662
Singles
Career record209–129
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 8 (20 November 2000)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (2001)
French Open4R (1998, 1999)
WimbledonSF (1997)
US Open4R (1996, 1998)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsSF (2000)
Olympic Games1R (1996)
Doubles
Career record200–71
Career titles16
Highest rankingNo. 1 (22 November 1999)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1999, 2002)
French OpenF (1999)
WimbledonSF (2000, 2002)
US OpenQF (1996, 2002)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1999, 2000)
Mixed doubles
Career record24–14
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenSF (1997, 2000)
French OpenQF (1997)
WimbledonF (1999)
US OpenF (2000)

Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova (Russian: Анна Сергеевна Курникова, IPA: [ˈanːə sʲɪrˈɡʲejɪvnə ˈkurnʲɪkəvə] ; born 7 June 1981) is a Russian model and television personality, and former professional tennis player. Her appearance and celebrity status made her one of the best known tennis stars worldwide. At the peak of her fame, fans looking for images of Kournikova made her name one of the most common search strings on Google Search.[1][2][3]

Despite never winning a singles title, she reached No. 8 in the world in 2000. She achieved greater success playing doubles, where she was at times the world No. 1 player. With Martina Hingis as her partner, she won Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002, and the WTA Championships in 1999 and 2000. They referred to themselves as the "Spice Girls of Tennis".[4][5]

Kournikova retired from professional tennis in 2003 due to serious back and spinal problems, including a herniated disk.[6] She lives in Miami Beach, Florida, and played in occasional exhibitions and in doubles for the St. Louis Aces of World Team Tennis before the team folded in 2011.[7] She was a new trainer for season 12 of the television show The Biggest Loser, replacing Jillian Michaels, but did not return for season 13. In addition to her tennis and television work, Kournikova serves as a Global Ambassador for Population Services International's "Five & Alive" program, which addresses health crises facing children under the age of five and their families.[8]

  1. ^ "2001 Year-End Google Zeitgeist: Search patterns, trends, and surprises". Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  2. ^ "2002 Year-End Google Zeitgeist: Search patterns, trends, and surprises". Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  3. ^ "2003 Year-End Google Zeitgeist: Search patterns, trends, and surprises". Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  4. ^ Harper, Tony (29 January 1999). "Hingis-Kournikova Win Australian Open Doubles". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Brendan (29 June 2010). "Wimbledon 2010: Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis lend some spice to Court Two". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. ^ Myles, Stephanie (18 February 2010). "Alla Kournikova – not mother of the year". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Players – Info – Anna Kournikova". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Anna Kournikova in Haiti, Day One: Child Survival". The Daily Traveler. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.