Sizzling, Hot, Sexy, Sporty and Talented Anna Kournikova

Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova is a semi-retired Russian professional tennis player and model. Her celebrity made her one of the best known tennis players worldwide.

Country : Russia

Residence : Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America

Date of Birth : June 7, 1981 (Age 26)

Place of Birth : Moscow, Soviet Union

Height : 1.73 m (5 feet and 8 inches

Weight : 56 kgs. (120 lbs.)

Father's Name : Sergei Kournikova

Mother's Name : Alla Kournikova

Education : Physical Culture Russian University

Relationships : Enrique Iglesias (Musician) & Pavel Bure (Ice Hockey Player)

Turned Pro : October 1995

Retired : Year 2003

Plays : Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Money Prize : $3,584,662.00

Anna Kournikova's talent was first discovered when she played at a weekly children's sports program at the age of 5.She started to play and practice more often, in places such as Moscow's Soklniki Park and the prestigious Spartak Tennis Club, despite the fact that her family was far from wealthy.

While still in Moscow, Anna Kournikova's first tennis coach was Larissa Preobraschenskaja, from 1985 to 1989. The budding tennis player trained and practiced while studying at school. In 1992, 11-year-old Anna Kournikova moved to Florida with her mother to attend Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Bradenton. The tennis facilities made it easier for Anna Kournikova, who had to commute from the gym to the tennis court to school while in Moscow.

SINGLES

• Career Record : 209 – 129

• Highest Ranking : 8 (November 20, 2000)

DOUBLES

• Career Record : 200 – 70

• Career Titles : 13

• Highest Ranking : No. 1 (November 22, 1999)

GRAND SLAM

• Australian Open : QF 2001

• French Open : 4R (1998-1999)

• Wimbledon : SF (1997)

• US Open : 4R (1996, 1998)

By the time she was 14, she had become the youngest player to win a Fed Cup match, and made sure people took notice of her when she won the European Championships and Italian Open juniors. When she turned pro in 1996, she stepped onto the scene as an ITF Junior World Champion.

Expectations were high and Anna Kournikova delivered: she reached the fourth round in her first Grand Slam tournament, the 1996 U.S. Open and the semifinals in her first Wimbledon appearance in 1997.

1998 was a big year for the blonde beauty: Anna Kournikova became the first Russian female to be seeded at the U.S. Open since 1976, reached the top 10 of the singles rankings, and upset Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals at the 1998 German Open, becoming the ninth-youngest player to defeat a No. 1 tennis player before turning 17.

The following year, Anna Kournikova won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 1999 Australian Open, with partner Martina Hingis. She managed to reach the fourth round in singles at all three Grand Slams, two Grand Slam doubles finals and one Grand Slam mixed doubles final.

In 2000, Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis continued to do damage on the courts, and ended the season with a career ranking of No. 8. She even defeated Lindsay Davenport and Nathalie Tauziat on the way to the fifth semifinal of that year in San Diego. She later moved down the rankings to No. 19 and beat Sandrine Testud before losing to Venus Williams. At the 2000 German Open in May, Anna Kournikova experienced the first in what would become a string of injuries. She continued to make appearances in high-profile tournaments and drawing in big crowds, but not as many titles or wins unfortunately. After 2003's Australian Open, she suffered a back injury that led to her withdrawal from that year's Wimbledon games.

Wins (2)

• 1999 Australian Open Championship partnering Martina Hingis vs. Lindsay Davenport and Natasha Zvereva at the score of 7-5, 6-3

• 2002 Australian Open Championship partnering Martina Hingis vs. Daniela Hantuchova and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the score of 6-2, 6-7, 6-1.

Runner-up (1)

• 1999 French Open Championship partnering Martina Hingis vs. Serena William and Venus William at the score of 6-3, 6-7, 8-6.

Grand Slam mixed doubles finals (2)

Runner-ups (2)

• 1999 Wimbledon Championship partnering Jonas Bjorkman vs. Leander Paes and Lisa Raymond at the score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

• 2000 U.S. Open Championship partnering Max Mirnvi vs. Jared Palmer and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the score of 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles (16)

1. Tier II = Tournament in Tokyo, Japan on 09/21/98 partnering Monica Seles vs. Mary Joe Fernandez & Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the score of 6-4, 6-4.

2. Grand Slam = Australian Open, Melbourne on 01/08/99 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Lindsay Davenport and Natasha Zvereva at the score of 7-5, 6-3.

3. Tier I = Indian Wells Masters, U.S. Tournament on 03/01/99 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Mary Joe Fernandez & Jana Novotna at the score 6-2, 6-2.

4. Tier I = Rome Masters, Italy Tournament on 05/03/99 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Alexandra Fusai and Nathalie Tauziat at the score 6-2, 6-2.

5. Tier II = Eastbourne, England Tournament on 06/14/99 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Jana Novotna and Natasha Zvereva at the score of 6-4, ret.

6. WTA Championships = New York, USA on 11/15/99 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Larisa Neiland and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the score of 6-4, 6-4.

7. Tier III = Gold Coast, Australia Tournament on 01/03/00 partnering Julie Halard vs. Sabine Appelmans and Rita Grande at the score of 6-3, 6-0.

8. Tier II = Hamburg, Germany Tournament on 05/01/00 partnering Natasha Zvereva vs. Nicole Arendt and Manon Bollegraf at the score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

9. Tier II = Filderstadt, Germany Tournament on 10/02/00 partnering Matina Hingis vs. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Barbara Schett at the score of 6-4, 6-2.

10. Tier I = Zurich, Switzerland Tournament on 10/09/00 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Kimberly Po and Anne-Gaelle Sidot at the score of 6-3, 6-4.

11. Tier II = Philadelphia, USA on 11/06/00 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Lisa Raymong and Rennae Stubbs at the score of 6-2, 7-2.

12. WTA Championships = New York, USA on 11/13/00 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Nicole Arendt and Manon Bollegraf at the score of 6-2-63.

13. Tier II = Sydney, Australia Tournament on 01/08/01 partnering Barbara Schett vs. Lisa Raymong and Rennae Stubbs at the score of 6-2, 7-5.

14. Tier I = Moscow, Russia Tournament on 10/01/01 partnering Martina Hingis vs Elena Dementieva and Lina Krasnoroutskaya at the score of 7-6, 6-3.

15. Grand Slam = Australian Open, Melbourne on 01/14/02 partnering Martina Hingis vs. Daniela Hantuchova and Arantx Sanchez Vicario at the score of 6-2, 6-7, 6-1.

16. Tier IV = Tournament in Shanghai, PR China on 01/14/02 partnering Janet Lee vs. Ai Sugiyama and Rika Fujiwara at the score of 7-5, 6-3.

Finalist (18)

Singles (4)

1. 1998: Miami (lost to Venus Williams)

2. 1999: Hilton Head (lost to Martina Hingis)

3. 2000: Moscow (lost to Martina Hingis)
4. 2002: Shanghai (lost to Anna Smashnova)

Doubles (12)

1. 1995: Moscow (with Aleksandra Olsza)
2. 1998: Paris (with Larisa Neiland)
3. 1998: Linz (with Larisa Neiland)
4. 1998: Filderstadt (with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario)
5. 1999: French Open (with Martina Hingis)

6. 1999: Stanford (with Elena Likhovtseva)

7. 2000: Indian Wells (with Natasha Zvereva)
8. 2000: San Diego (with Lindsay Davenport)
9. 2000: Moscow (with Martina Hingis)
10. 2001: Tokyo (with Iroda Tulyaganova)
11. 2001: San Diego (with Martina Hingis)

12. 2002: Sydney (with Martina Hingis)

Mixed doubles (2)

1. 1999: Wimbledon (with Jonas Björkman)

2. 2000: U.S. Open (with Max Mirnyi)

Aside from single-handedly making women's tennis popular again, Anna Kournikova is one of the most searched people on the internet thanks to her amazing looks.

Anna Kournikova also proved her earning power by being one of the richest women in sports, thanks to lucrative contracts with companies like Adidas, Yonex, Berlei (the famous sports bra), Omega (also the choice of Cindy Crawford and Pierce Brosnan), and Lycos (who once named Anna Kournikova the most popular athlete on the internet, moving Michael Jordan to the No. 2 spot).

By 2002, she was reportedly making $10 million a year, and she continues to be the most photographed woman in sports -- even though her ranking and stats are nothing to write Russia about.

"I'm like a menu at an expensive restaurant -- you can look at me, but you can't afford me." - Anna Kournikova

In 2001, she had a bit part in the Jim Carrey comedy Me, Myself & Irene as a motel manager,

In 2002 she starred opposite Enrique Iglesias in the pop singer's video for "Escape."

FHM's Sexiest Woman in the World Headlined with her relationships with NHL players Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov (who she was allegedly married to)

On-again, off-again romance with Enrique Iglesias.

Anna Kournikova graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 2000 edition

Featured in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue in 2004 and 2005.

She also came in at No. 99 in AskMen.com's Top 99 Women of 2006.

Featured in ELLE magazine's July 2005 issue