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 Me, Myself & Irene 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.


Is an only child. Named one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People of 1998. Dated Pavel Bure and childhood sweetheart Sergei Fedorov at the same time. Fedorov told The Hockey News that he and Kournikova had secretly married in July 2001, but were divorced shortly thereafter; Kournikova has never confirmed this. Her fastest serve was clocked at 111.2 mph during the Paris Indoors of 1998. Has never won a major tennis tournament, as of January 2004. Knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round. [June 2002] 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. 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]. 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. Ranked as #62 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)