The Rise of Anna Kournikova
Back in the 1990s, you couldn’t flip through a glossy magazine without encountering the athletic figure of tennis star Anna Kournikova. Despite never reaching the final of a grand slam singles tournament, the Russian’s charisma and beauty made her an icon. She was the highest-earning female player in 2000, thanks to a string of lucrative endorsements. One memorable campaign saw her in a sports bra on billboards, with the tagline, "only the ball should bounce." Kournikova’s allure was such that she was frequently in the spotlight, and her rise to fame began early. At the age of five, her mother Alla sold their television to buy her a tennis racket, and within five years, Anna had secured a place at a prestigious academy in Florida. She turned professional at 14 and made waves by reaching the fourth round of the US Open the following year, losing to the eventual champion, Steffi Graf. Her semi-final run at Wimbledon in 1997, at the age of 16, catapulted her into the stratosphere of sports stardom. Her blonde hair, perfect smile, and 44-inch legs were a marketer’s dream, and in 2001, she earned a staggering £7 million from sponsorship deals alone.
The Pressure of Stardom
Kournikova’s meteoric rise came with a heavy toll. The constant scrutiny and pressure to perform were overwhelming. In a 2019 interview with The Sun, she admitted, "Being in the spotlight since I was a child was really hard. I did feel pressure when people were saying things like, ‘You’re too pretty, you can’t play,’ or whatever. I would get so nervous and get anxiety on the court, I wouldn’t be able to move." Her image as a heartbreaker only added to the stress. Rumors of multiple romantic liaisons, including with Brazilian footballer Ronaldo and Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis, made headlines. The most infamous story involved a love triangle with Russian ice hockey stars Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure. Anna was said to have been in an on-off relationship with Sergei, and Pavel made a move in 2000, even proposing to her at a Miami restaurant. Despite the drama, Anna chose Sergei, and a marriage certificate in Moscow appeared to show they had tied the knot in 2001. However, Anna always denied getting married, and Sergei claimed they had divorced in 2003, saying, "I loved her but she had her own plans."
Life After Tennis
Kournikova’s tennis career was cut short by a back injury that forced her to retire in 2002. She said, "My back really forced me to stop. It got so bad I couldn’t tie my shoes, literally. I would be in excruciating pain." While she never reached the heights expected of her, she did achieve significant success in doubles, winning the Australian Open twice. Her retirement marked a significant shift in her life. She met pop star Enrique Iglesias in late 2001, and their relationship brought a new sense of stability. By 2004, she was at odds with her mother Alla, who had orchestrated much of her early career. Alla and her father Sergei launched legal action to get their daughter out of the Miami pad they claimed to own, but a secret settlement was reached. Despite the turmoil, Kournikova found solace in her relationship with Iglesias and the privacy of their life together.
A Life of Privacy
Since retiring, Kournikova has become a reclusive figure, living behind 16-foot walls at the beachfront mansion in Miami she shares with Iglesias and their three children. Her public appearances have become rare, and she has largely stayed out of the spotlight. In May 2022, she was last seen sharing a photo of her family celebrating Mother’s Day and Iglesias’ 47th birthday in their back garden. The birth of her twins, Nicholas and Lucy, in December 2017, sealed her move away from public view. She did not announce their birth until a month later, and since then, there have been only occasional images of her children on social media. Kournikova has expressed her love for motherhood, saying, "I absolutely wanted to have children, whether I had my own or adopted." Despite the rumors, she and Iglesias have not publicly confirmed their marriage. She wears a large sparkly ring on her wedding finger and refers to herself as Anna Kournikova Iglesias on her Instagram page. Iglesias has also referred to her as his wife and said, "We haven’t gotten married in public, but that doesn’t mean we are not married. We have been together for such a long time, for half of our lives."
Recent Sightings and Injuries
This week, Kournikova was photographed in public for the first time in nearly three years, shocking her fans. The 43-year-old was seen at Bal Harbour in Miami, being pushed along in a wheelchair by family and friends, with her right foot clad in an orthopaedic boot. Her daughters, Lucy and Mary, were by her side, and the image provided a brief glimpse into the happiness that motherhood has brought her. Kournikova’s reluctance to go out in public is understandable, given her past experiences. A stalker once tried to break into her property, leading her to bolster her security with bodyguards. In a 2019 interview, she reflected on her previous fame, saying, "It’s really strange, it feels like it happened to me but it didn’t happen to me because it was such a long time ago." The attention and pressure had made her anxious, and she confessed, "I would get so nervous and get anxiety on the court, I wouldn’t be able to move."
Reflecting on a Life of Fame and Family
Kournikova’s journey from a teenage sensation to a private family woman is a testament to her resilience and the value she places on privacy. While she could have leveraged her fame for further stardom, she chose a quieter life with her family. She has occasionally appeared on reality shows, such as "The Biggest Loser," but has largely shunned the numerous opportunities to return to the public eye. Her priorities are clear: her children and her relationship with Iglesias. Despite the injuries that plagued her tennis career, she has found contentment in her current life. The last photo she posted of herself on social media was in 2021, and she shows no signs of wanting to reengage with the public’s scrutiny. With a loving family around her, Kournikova can now block out the world’s opinions and focus on the happiness she has found.
