birthdays: Anna Kournikova

7 June 1981

Anna Kournikova
(34th anniversary)

Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Anna Kournikova was born on 7 June 1981 in Moscow, Russia. At the age of 7, her father began teaching her how to play tennis. Anna practiced everyday. When she was a teenager, she was entered in her first tennis competition. For her looks, Anna became known as the "Britney Spears of Tennis".

In 1998, during the Paris Indoors of 1998, her fastest serve was clocked at 111.2 mph. Anna's talent for playing tennis got her noticed not just for tennis competitions, but for TV as well. When she was 19 years old, she got a small, but noticeable part in Yo, yo mismo e Irene (2000) playing a Motel Manager. She also appeared and played Enrique's girlfriend in Enrique Iglesias's music video "Escape". Anna was voted the Sexiest Woman in the World in FHM's 100 Sexiest Girls poll for 2002. In September of 2003, she sustained an injury to her lower back and worked as an on-site reporter for the U.S. networks coverage of the U.S. Open. But, as of March 2004, Anna retired from professional tennis due to chronic lower back trouble. She has never won a WTA singles title but did win 2 Australian Open doubles titles with Martina Hingis.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Stephanie Koston

Trade Mark
Long blonde hair

Trivia
Is an only child.

Ex-tennis player.

Named one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People of 1998.

Graduated from a Russian high school in 1997, and has attended Russian University of Physical Culture since 1997.

2002: Appears in the new Enrique Iglesias video "Escape".

Her fastest serve was clocked at 111.2 mph during the Paris Indoors of 1998.

May 2002: has been voted "the sexiest woman in the world" in the magazine "FHM" (Australian version).

Has never won a major tennis tournament, as of January 2004.

It is announced that Kournikova was voted the Sexiest Woman in the World in FHM's 100 Sexiest Girls poll for 2002, American edition. [May 2002]

Knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round. [June 2002]

Ranked 299th in the world (as of October 2003).

Has a tattoo of a sun design on her lower back, which made its "debut" at the 2003 Australian Open. Oddly, she denied having it, telling reporters that it was actually a heat patch to treat back pain.

Sold her Miami Beach condo at Portofino Tower to Sergei Fedorov for $1.63 million (December 2003).

In February 2001, the Anna Kournikova Virus was released. Within a few hours of its distribution anti-virus vendors received thousands of reports. However, investigators were only able to list 55 incidents of infection, causing just $166,827 worth of damage. On 27 September 2001, a Dutch court gave the virus's author, Jan De Wit, the choice of 150 hours community service or 75 days in jail.

Voted as #9 on the Top 100 Sexiest Women 2004 in FHM [DK].

Her best ranking in tennis was number 8 in the world (2000).

Career best Grand Slam tournament singles results: Australian Open quarterfinals in 2001, French Open 4th round in 1998 and 1999, Wimbledon semifinals in 1997, U.S. Open 4th round in 1996 and 1998.

Named #29 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.

Ranked as #62 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Voted No. 19 on the 2011 Maxim list "Hot 100" women.

Working as an on-site reporter for the U.S. networks coverage of the U.S. Open. [September 2003]

In Australia with Enrique Iglesias for his "Seven" tour. [March 2004]

Retired from professional tennis due to chronic lower back trouble. Kournikova never won a WTA singles title but did win 2 Australian Open doubles titles with Martina Hingis.

Her half brother Alan won the World Championship of Golf for 6 year olds in 2011. See The Short Game (2013) for his performance at the 2012 championships.