Anna Kournikova – Russian celebrity, Player

Anna Kournikova was born on 7th June, 1981 at Moscow, Russia to the couple of Allah & Sergei. She had a liking for tennis at a small age. When Anna was five years old she received her first tennis racquet as a Christmas gift from her parents. Unfortunately, her parents had to sell their TV to buy her the present. Until the age of eleven Anna played in a club nearby her home. Then after sometimes she had to move to Bradenton, Florida in the USA to train with Nick Bollitierri. Anna Kournikova then went on to represent Russia in a Fed cup match at the age of fourteen. She became the youngest player ever to win a fed cup match thus creating history.

At the age of fifteen, Kournikova made her WTA debut at the US Open. But finally she lost against Steffi Graf – one of the top player at that time. However, in the doubles event of that same tournament she made it to the quarter finals. In 1996 Anna won the rookie of the year award. In the year of 1997, she improved tremendously to even make it to the semifinals of Wimbledon. Anna then lost to Martina Hingis - the world number one then, at the French Open & at Wimbledon. Having forgotten everything past, she made her way to the first career WTA final in Key Biscane against Venus Williams in a tough 3 set match.

It was the year 1999 that Anna won her first professional title at Midland, Michigan. It was an ITF tournament. Anna won her second career ITF tournament in Illinois the same year & she was the 5th favorite there. In Tokyo Anna won her first doubles title with Monica Seles.

In 1999, Anna Kournikovawon her first grand slam title the 'Australian Open' with Martina Hingis in doubles. They began to play together regularly & have become one of the best pairs at that time. For the 1999 season Anna Kournikova finished the number 1 in doubles considering the fact that she did not compete in Wimbledon & even in the US Open. She is still very young at age but very old in experience & seems to have a great future ahead of her. Anna reached the 10th spot in WTA ranking which is also her best at that time.

In 1999, she had to make an important move from IMG to Octogon for her agency. Some people thinks that Anna was jealous of all the sponsorship deals going after Martina Hingis which she was not getting from IMG. Anna wants to be amongst the top 5 players of the world which she is very much capable of achieving.