Are you a tennis lover who just realized you haven’t heard from Anna Kournikova lately? Where is the former Russian tennis pro today? How did her tennis career begin—and how or why did it end? Where did she wind up after an uber-successful career?
If you’re looking for the lowdown on Anna Kournikova today (and in the past), you’re in the right place. We are the star’s timeline as we talk about her life growing up, her tennis career, and what came after all the popularity—including her current relationship status.
Who Is Anna Kournikova?
Kournikova was born in June of 1981, making her a recent 40-year-old. She was born in Moscow, Russia, to a wrestling pro father and a running champ mother. Even her brother inclined sports, becoming a world golf champion in his own life.
Anna Kournikova (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
It’s safe to say that athleticism is in this family’s genes. Naturally, her parents wanted Anna to follow in their footsteps, so they gifted her a tennis racquet at age five. Three years later, at age eight, Anna was already competing in junior tennis tournaments—having found a knack for the sport.
Eventually, Anna was good enough to get scouted, and at age nine, accepted a deal to train tennis in the US. Four short years after receiving a racquet, Kournikova was already fielding offers from tennis academies left and right. Ultimately, she accepted an invitation to Florida, where her career began to take off.
Anna Kournikova’s Rise In Tennis World
It’s safe to say that if you impress at age nine, it can only go up from there! By honing her talents, Anna Kournikova got better, faster, and stronger at her beloved sport. Anna won the European Championships and the Italian Open by age fourteen. Her reign of impressiveness continued when she became the youngest player to secure a Junior Orange Bowl win.
Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Anna’s streak continued into the mid-90s when she hit a double-whammy—winning both the Junior World Champion U-18 and the European Champion U-18 titles. By the late 90s, Anna was named a WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) top-20 athlete. Anna ended the season as World No. 1 women’s doubles player in November 1999.
So, numerous wins were under her belt before she even turned eighteen. Did the champion stop there? No, she didn’t! She had to tackle the Australian Open next. Anna played—and secured a victory—at the famous championship in 2003. Despite not winning the singles title in her career, Anna won doubles Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002 with Martina Hingis.
Anna Kournikova: Retirement And Life After
However, that’s where her winning streak met its bitter end. Unfortunately for the promising young player, Anna sustained back injuries at the Open that would affect her game then and continue to be a problem later, eventually causing the athlete to retire in her early 20s.
Of course, just because her career ended didn’t mean her fame did—or her willingness to play. Anna continued to play the sport she loved, this time for charities and fundraisers, helping organizations she was passionate about to raise money for various causes.
Anna Kournikova’s Celebrity Status
In addition to playing for charity, Anna Kournikova remained a well-loved celebrity in her own right, earning several titles of a different nature (such as a spot on the “100 Hottest Women of All Time” list). She even had a guest spot in Me, Myself, and Irene, playing briefly alongside Jim Carrey as a hotel manager. If you blinked, you might have missed her scene.
Anna Kournikova (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
She also appeared on several TV shows (such as The Biggest Loser) and, thanks to her beautiful looks, appeared on several magazine covers (Maxim and Sports Illustrated, to name two). So, what’s she doing now? Are there Anna Kournikova kids running around? How about a spouse? Let’s see.
Is Anna Kournikova Married?
If you felt bad that Anna’s career ended so early, pause. The “eighth-highest-ranked professional female tennis player in the world” did quite well for herself. She became a US citizen and eventually partnered with another household name, albeit of a different variety—Enrique Iglesias. The couple had three children together—Lucy, Mary, and Nicholas—and we can only guess they’re as gorgeous as their parents!
Despite being in the spotlight, the couple has maintained a low profile. After a fairly public but brief split, they had their twins, Nicholas and Lucy, in December 2017, to everyone’s surprise. Her pregnancy was a secret; the kids arrived happy, healthy, and under the radar.
In January 2020, Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias welcomed their third child, Mary, bringing their happy family to five. They lived in a waterfront, Mediterranean-style mansion in Miami Beach, Florida, for a while, but they’re selling that home for a cool $14 million. Are the pair married? One can only guess. The couple won’t tell us, but you can follow their adventures via Instagram.
What Is Anna Kournikova’s Net Worth?
After winning two doubles grand slams and WTA championships, Kournikova made less than $4 million in career prize money. However, she earned tens of millions through brand endorsement deals. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Anna Kournikova has a net worth of $60 million.
Anna Kournikova (Image Credit: Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Anna Kournikova has lived a full, exciting, and interesting life. While some of us were sleeping or hanging out with friends, Kournikova woke up early, training to be a tennis pro. While we were turning 21 and having our first beers, Kournikova was already retiring from an impressive career.
