Anna Kournikova became a worldwide celebrity during her tennis career before it was cut short in 2003 due to injuries, two years after she began dating pop superstar Enrique Iglesias
Anna Kournikova may have endured a sad end to her tennis career due to injury but the sporting icon found solace in her family with Enrique Iglesias.
Bursting onto the scene in the late 90s, the Russian’s looks and celebrity status saw her become a household name that transcended the world of sports. She was only 15 years of age when she reached the third round of the US Open, before losing to eventual winner Steffi Graf.
A year later, she continued to establish herself as a tennis phenom as she made it to the semi-finals of Wimbledon aged just 16. She was knocked out by future doubles team-mate Martina Hingis, who went on to win the title.
Beyond tennis, Kournikova became a familiar face on magazine covers, including FHM and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2002, she was voted the world’s sexiest woman, beating celebrities like Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.
She also had a small role in the cult comedy classic Me, Myself and Irene in 2000, starring alongside Hollywood heavyweights Jim Carrey and Rene Zellweger.
Kournikova also ventured into TV presenting, appearing on NBC’s The Biggest Loser show as a celebrity trainer.
While her future looked incredibly bright, that stunning run at the All England Club would be the furthest she’d reach at a Grand Slam before her untimely retirement in 2003 at 21 years of age due to debilitating back and spine issues.
At the time of her retirement, she had been dating the Spanish artist for two years and has remained together with the Hero singer ever since. The pair share three children, twins Nicholas and Lucy, 7, and Mary, 5 and live a quiet life out of the public spotlight for the most part.