Born: June 7, 1981 Birthplace: Moscow, Russia Current residence: Bradenton, Florida Height: 5'6" (1.68 m) Measurements: Education: high school University of Physical Culture Interesting facts: Favorite color is black.

Lifestory

Anna Kournikova was born June 7th 1981 in Moscow. Her parents names are Allah and Sergei. She received her first tennis raquet at 5 years old when her parents sold their tv to buy her for christmas. She played in a club near her place untill age 11. After, she moved to Bradenton, Florida (USA) to train with Nick Bollitierri. At 14, she represented Russia in a Fed cup match and became the youngest player ever to win a fed cup match.

She was the world's topped-ranked junior at the end of 1995, shortly after Martina Hingis joined the professional ranks. Kournikova herself turned professional in 1996, and competed in her first grand slam at the US OPEN that year. She performed exceptionally well, defeating seeded players before finally falling to eventual champion Steffi Graf in the 4th round. In 1997, she affirmed her position amongst the world's top players, with the highlight being a semi-final appearance at her first Wimbledon as a professional.

Russian-born Anna Kournikova left Moscow at the age of 9 to come to Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, USA - the same academy which has also produced Monica Seles and Andre Agassi.

Kournikova says her game wasn't modelled after any one player, although lists Graf and Seles as players she has learnt from, watching television. At 16 years of age, she hasn't fully developed her power game yet, but shows signs of things to come with some fearful groundstrokes coupled with good court mentality.

Kournikova is indeed superstar material, with glamourous looks (she says if not for tennis, her passion would be acting) and an aggressive all-court game to match. In fact, she has had an agent since the age of 10. Currently ranked in the top 30, Coach Bollettieri predicts her to be a future top 10 player, and still others forsee her and Hingis battling it out for world number 1 in a few years to come. Regardless, Anna Kournikova will play a great role in the future of women's tennis.

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