Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova | |
---|---|
Анна Курникова | |
USO tour | |
Born | Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | 7 June 1981
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Partner | Enrique Iglesias (2001–present) |
Children | 3 |
Tennis career | |
Country (sports) | Russia |
Residence | Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Turned pro | October 1995 |
Retired | May 2003 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$3,584,662 |
Singles | |
Career record | 209–129 (61.8%) |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 8 (20 November 2000) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | QF (2001) |
French Open | 4R (1998, 1999) |
Wimbledon | SF (1997) |
US Open | 4R (1996, 1998) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | SF (2000) |
Olympic Games | 1R (1996) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 200–71 |
Career titles | 16 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (22 November 1999) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1999, 2002) |
French Open | F (1999) |
Wimbledon | SF (2000, 2002) |
US Open | QF (1996, 2002) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
Tour Finals | W (1999, 2000) |
Mixed doubles | |
Career record | 24–14 |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1997, 2000) |
French Open | QF (1997) |
Wimbledon | F (1999) |
US Open | F (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
Kournikova retired from professional tennis in 2003 due to serious back and spinal problems, including a
Early life
Kournikova was born in Moscow, Russia, on 7 June 1981. Her father, Sergei Kournikov (born 1961),[9] a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion, eventually earned a PhD and was a professor at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow. As of 2001, he was still a part-time martial arts instructor there. Her mother Alla (born 1963) had been a 400-metre runner.[10] Her younger half-brother, Allan, is a youth golf world champion who was featured in the 2013 documentary film The Short Game.[11]
Sergei Kournikov has said, "We were young and we liked the clean, physical life, so Anna was in a good environment for sport from the beginning".[10]
Kournikova received her first tennis
Tennis career
1989–1997: early years and breakthrough
Following her arrival in the United States, she became prominent on the tennis scene.
Earlier, in September 1995, Kournikova, still only 14 years of age, debuted in the WTA Tour,[15] when she received a wildcard into the qualifications at the WTA tournament in Moscow, the Moscow Ladies Open, and qualified before losing in the second round of the main draw to third-seeded Sabine Appelmans. She also reached her first WTA Tour doubles final in that debut appearance — partnering with 1995 Wimbledon girls' champion in both singles and doubles Aleksandra Olsza, she lost the title match to Meredith McGrath and Larisa Savchenko-Neiland.
In February–March 1996, Kournikova won two
In 1996, she started playing under a new coach, Ed Nagel. Her six-year association with Nagel was successful. At 15, she made her Grand Slam debut, reaching the fourth round of the 1996
Kournikova entered the
At the
There she lost to eventual champion Martina Hingis.At the
1998–2000: success and stardom
In 1998, Kournikova broke into the WTA's top 20 rankings for the first time, when she was ranked No. 16. At the
Kournikova then reached two consecutive quarterfinals, at Amelia Island and the Italian Open, losing respectively to Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis. At the German Open, she reached the semi-finals in both singles and doubles, partnering with Larisa Savchenko-Neiland. At the
At the start of the 1999 season, Kournikova advanced to the fourth round in singles at the
While Kournikova had a successful singles season, she was even more successful in doubles. After their victory at the Australian Open, she and Martina Hingis won tournaments in Indian Wells, Rome, Eastbourne and the WTA Tour Championships, and reached the final of The French Open where they lost to Serena and Venus Williams. Partnering with Elena Likhovtseva, Kournikova also reached the final in Stanford. On 22 November 1999 she reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles, and ended the season at this ranking. Kournikova and Hingis were presented with the WTA Award for Doubles Team of the Year.
Kournikova opened her
2001–2003: injuries and final years
Her 2001 season was plagued by injuries, including a left foot stress fracture which made her withdraw from 12 tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon.[17] She underwent surgery in April.[17] She reached her second career grand slam quarterfinals, at the Australian Open. Kournikova then withdrew from several events due to continuing problems with her left foot and did not return until Leipzig. With Barbara Schett, she won the doubles title in Sydney. She then lost in the finals in Tokyo, partnering with Iroda Tulyaganova, and at San Diego, partnering with Martina Hingis. Hingis and Kournikova also won the Kremlin Cup. At the end of the 2001 season, she was ranked No. 74 in singles and No. 26 in doubles.[20]
Kournikova regained some success in 2002. She reached the semi-finals of Auckland, Tokyo, Acapulco and San Diego, and the final of the China Open, losing to Anna Smashnova. This was Kournikova's last singles final. With Martina Hingis, she lost in the final at Sydney, but they won their second Grand Slam title together, the Australian Open. They also lost in the quarterfinals of the US Open. With Chanda Rubin, Kournikova played the semi-finals of Wimbledon, but they lost to Serena and Venus Williams. Partnering with Janet Lee, she won the Shanghai title. At the end of 2002 season, she was ranked No. 35 in singles and No. 11 in doubles.[20]
In 2003, Anna Kournikova achieved her first Grand Slam match victory in two years at the
Kournikova's two Grand Slam doubles titles came in 1999 and 2002, both at the Australian Open in the Women's Doubles event with partner Martina Hingis. Kournikova proved a successful doubles player on the professional circuit, winning 16 tournament doubles titles, including two Australian Opens and being a finalist in mixed doubles at the US Open and at Wimbledon, and reaching the No. 1 ranking in doubles in the WTA Tour rankings. Her pro career doubles record was 200–71. However, her singles career plateaued after 1999. For the most part, she managed to retain her ranking between 10 and 15 (her career high singles ranking was No.8), but her expected finals breakthrough failed to occur; she only reached four finals out of 130 singles tournaments, never in a Grand Slam event, and never won one.
Her singles record is 209–129. Her final playing years were marred by a string of injuries, especially back injuries, which caused her ranking to erode gradually. As a personality Kournikova was among the most common search strings for both articles and images in her prime.[1][2][3]
2004–present: exhibitions and World Team Tennis
Kournikova has not played on the WTA Tour since 2003, but still plays exhibition matches for charitable causes. In late 2004, she participated in three events organized by
In September 2008, Kournikova showed up for the 2008 Nautica Malibu Triathlon held at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.[21] The Race raised funds for children's Hospital Los Angeles. She won that race for women's K-Swiss team.[21] On 27 September 2008, Kournikova played exhibition mixed doubles matches in Charlotte, North Carolina, partnering with Tim Wilkison and Karel Nováček.[22] Kournikova and Wilkison defeated Jimmy Arias and Chanda Rubin, and then Kournikova and Novacek defeated Rubin and Wilkison.[22]
On 12 October 2008, Anna Kournikova played one exhibition match for the annual charity event, hosted by Billie Jean King and Elton John, and raised more than $400,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.[23] She played doubles with Andy Roddick (they were coached by David Chang) versus Martina Navratilova and Jesse Levine (coached by Billie Jean King); Kournikova and Roddick won.[23]
Kournikova was one of "four former world No. 1 players" who participated in "Legendary Night", held on 2 May 2009, at the Turning Stone Event Center in Verona, New York, the others being John McEnroe (who had been No. 1 in both singles and doubles), Tracy Austin and Jim Courier (both of whom who had been No. 1 in singles but not doubles).[24] The exhibition included a mixed doubles match in which McEnroe and Kournikova defeated Courier and Austin.
In 2008, she was named a spokesperson for K-Swiss.[25] In 2005, Kournikova stated that if she were 100% fit, she would like to come back and compete again.[26]
In June 2010, Kournikova reunited with her doubles partner Martina Hingis to participate in competitive tennis for the first time in seven years in the Invitational Ladies Doubles event at Wimbledon.[27][28] On 29 June 2010 they defeated the British pair Samantha Smith and Anne Hobbs.[29]
Playing style
Kournikova plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand.[7] She is a great player at the net.[30] She can hit forceful groundstrokes and also drop shots.[31]
Her playing style fits the profile for a doubles player, and is complemented by her height.[32] She has been compared to such doubles specialists as Pam Shriver and Peter Fleming.[32]
Personal life
Kournikova was in a relationship with fellow Russian, Pavel Bure, an NHL ice hockey player. The two met in 1999, when Kournikova was still linked to Bure's former Russian teammate Sergei Fedorov.[33] Bure and Kournikova were reported to have been engaged in 2000 after a reporter took a photo of them together in a Florida restaurant where Bure supposedly asked Kournikova to marry him. As the story made headlines in Russia, where they were both heavily followed in the media as celebrities, Bure and Kournikova both denied any engagement. Kournikova, 10 years younger than Bure, was 18 years old at the time.[34]
Fedorov claimed that he and Kournikova were married in 2001, and divorced in 2003.[35] Kournikova's representatives deny any marriage to Fedorov; however, Fedorov's agent Pat Brisson claims that although he does not know when they got married, he knew "Fedorov was married".[35]
Kournikova started dating singer Enrique Iglesias in late 2001 after she had appeared in his music video for "Escape".[36] The couple have three children together, fraternal twins, a son and daughter, born on 16 December 2017,[37] and another daughter born on 30 January 2020.[38][39]
It was reported in 2010 that Kournikova had become an American citizen.[40][41]
Media publicity
In 2000, Kournikova became the new face for Berlei's shock absorber sports bras, and appeared in the "only the ball should bounce" billboard campaign.[42] Following that, she was cast by the Farrelly brothers for a minor role in the 2000 film Me, Myself & Irene starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger.[43] Photographs of her have appeared on covers of various publications, including men's magazines, such as one in the much-publicized 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,[44] where she posed in bikinis and swimsuits, as well as in FHM[45] and Maxim.[46]
Kournikova was named one of
She continued to be the most searched athlete on the Internet through 2008 even though she had retired from the professional tennis circuit years earlier.[51] After slipping from first to sixth among athletes in 2009,[52] she moved back up to third place among athletes in terms of search popularity in 2010.[53]
In October 2010, Kournikova headed to NBC's The Biggest Loser where she led the contestants in a tennis-workout challenge.[54][55] In May 2011, it was announced that Kournikova would join The Biggest Loser as a regular celebrity trainer in season 12.[56] She did not return for season 13.[57]
Legacy and influence on popular culture
- A variation of a White Russian made with skim milk is known as an Anna Kournikova.[58][59]
- A video game featuring Kournikova's licensed appearance, titled Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis, was developed by Namco and released for the PlayStation in Japan and Europe in November 1998.[60]
- A computer virus named after her spread worldwide beginning on 12 February 2001 infecting computers through email in a matter of hours.[58][61]
Career statistics and awards
Doubles performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Tournament | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | SR | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | 1R | 2R | W | SF | QF | W | 3R | 2 / 7 | 22–5 |
French Open | A | A | 3R | SF | F | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 13–4 |
Wimbledon | A | A | 2R | A | A | SF | A | SF | A | 0 / 3 | 9–3 |
US Open | A | QF | 3R | 2R | A | 2R | A | QF | A | 0 / 5 | 10–5 |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 3–1 | 5–4 | 6–3 | 11–1 | 11–4 | 3–1 | 13–2 | 2–1 | 2 / 19 | 54–17 |
Year-end championship | |||||||||||
Tour Championships
|
A | A | A | QF
|
W | W | A | A | A | 2 / 3 | 6–1 |
Career statistics | |||||||||||
Year-end ranking | — | 70 | 40 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 11 | 176 |
Grand Slam tournament finals
Doubles: 3 (2–1)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1999 | Australian Open | Hard | Martina Hingis | Lindsay Davenport Natasha Zvereva |
7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 1999 | French Open | Clay | Martina Hingis | Serena Williams Venus Williams |
3–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–8 |
Win | 2002 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Martina Hingis | Daniela Hantuchová Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
6–2, 6–7(4–7), 6–1 |
Mixed doubles: 2 (0–2)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1999 | Wimbledon | Grass | Jonas Björkman | Leander Paes Lisa Raymond |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Loss | 2000 | US Open | Hard | Max Mirnyi | Jared Palmer Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
4–6, 3–6 |
Awards
- 1996: WTA Newcomer of the Year
- 1999: WTA Doubles Team of the Year (with Martina Hingis)
Books
- Anna Kournikova by Susan Holden (2001) (ISBN 978-1-84222-416-8)
- Anna Kournikova by Connie Berman (2001) (Women Who Win) (ISBN 978-0-7910-6529-7)
References
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- ^ a b "2002 Year-End Google Zeitgeist: Search patterns, trends, and surprises". Retrieved 8 July 2009.
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- ^ Harper, Tony (29 January 1999). "Hingis-Kournikova Win Australian Open Doubles". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Players – Info – Anna Kournikova". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Anna's official discussion forum". Community.kournikova.com. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "Anna Kournikova: Description". Sportsmates. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
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{{cite web}}
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- ^ Big Time Tennis Names to CNY Archived 16 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine CNY Central, 17 March 2009
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- ISBN 0-387-20473-3.
External links
- Official website
- Anna Kournikova at the Women's Tennis Association
- Anna Kournikova at the International Tennis Federation
- Anna Kournikova at the Billie Jean King Cup
- Anna Kournikova at Wimbledon
- Anna Kournikova at Olympedia
- Anna Kournikova at Olympics.com
- Anna Kournikova at IMDb