Fresh Look Anna Kournikova Hairstyles

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Anna Kournikova (née Anya Kournikova) was born on June 7, 1981, in Moscow, Russia, to Sergei and Alla. Her father, a lecturer at the sports university in Moscow and a part-time tennis coach, and mother, did not encourage Anna to play tennis for the fame, but rather for the health benefits of the sport.

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Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova first received notice while playing in the Federation Cup at age 14 and reaching the fourth round in her first U.S. Open (1996) at age 15. Discovered by IMG Agents in the Kremlin Cup in Moscow at age 9, Anna has since won many tournaments, including the Orange Bowl and the Italian Open, as well as becoming the Junior European Champion and Junior World Champion (all in 1995). She reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 1997 and won her first Grand Slam title, a doubles triumph with Martina Hingis, at the Australian Open in 1999. In 2004, Anna retired from professional tennis after suffering from a chronic back injury.

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Anna Kournikova is widely recognized not only for her performance on the tennis court but also for her stunning looks. Blonde-haired, 5' 8" tall Anna was listed as one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" four times, in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003. She also posed for the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 2000 edition and was featured in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition in 2004. The Sexiest Woman in the World, according to FHM Magazine (2002, American edition), Anna splashed across the screen in the 2000 film Me, Myself and Irene, starring Jim Carrey.

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The only child of a Russian part-time tennis coach, Anna Kornikova received her first tennis racket from her parents for Christmas at age 5. She then began to play and practice in such tennis courts as Moscow's Soklniki Park and the high-class Spartak Tennis Club (coached by the husband of Russian pro Olga Morozova), despite her parents' modest income. She practiced with her first tennis coach, Larissa Preobraschenskaja, from 1985 to 1989 and started appearing in junior competitions and quickly caught the eye of local tennis scouts.

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Anna ended the millennium season with a career ranking of No. 8 and later moved down the rankings to No. 19. She also tried her hand in acting, appearing as a motel manager in Jim Carrey's starring comedy movie Me, Myself & Irene. Additionally, she starred in Enrique Iglesias' music video for the song "Escape." Meanwhile, the blonde beauty also branched out into modeling. She was a model for such product ads as Adidas, Yonex, Berlei and Omega. The most photographed woman in sports by 2002, Anna was showcased on the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 2000 edition and was featured in Sports Illustrated 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Special: American Beauty in 2004.

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1998 was probably Anna's glory year. She was the first Russian female at the U.S. Open since 1976 and reached the Top 10 of the singles rankings. She also beat Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals at the 1998 German Open and became the ninth-youngest player to defeat a No. 1 tennis player before turning 17 (since 1968). Moreover, she made the fastest serve at 111.2 mph during the Paris Indoors of 1998.

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Anna Kournikova's talent was first discovered when she played at a weekly children's sports program at the age of 5, thanks to the racket she received from her parents for Christmas. She started to play and practice more often, in places such as Moscow's Soklniki Park and the prestigious Spartak Tennis Club, despite the fact that her family was far from wealthy.

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While still in Moscow, Anna Kournikova's first tennis coach was Larissa Preobraschenskaja, from 1985 to 1989. The budding tennis player trained and practiced while studying at school. In 1992, 11-year-old Anna Kournikova moved to Florida with her mother to attend Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Bradenton. The tennis facilities made it easier for Anna Kournikova, who had to commute from the gym to the tennis court to school while in Moscow.

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By the time she was 14, she had become the youngest player to win a Fed Cup match, and made sure people took notice of her when she won the European Championships and Italian Open juniors. When she turned pro in 1996, she stepped onto the scene as an ITF Junior World Champion. Expectations were high and Anna Kournikova delivered: she reached the fourth round in her first Grand Slam tournament, the 1996 U.S. Open and the semifinals in her first Wimbledon appearance in 1997.

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1998 was a big year for the blonde beauty: Anna Kournikova became the first Russian female to be seeded at the U.S. Open since 1976, reached the top 10 of the singles rankings, and upset Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals at the 1998 German Open, becoming the ninth-youngest player to defeat a No. 1 tennis player before turning 17.

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The following year, Anna Kournikova won her first Grand Slam doubles title at the 1999 Australian Open, with partner Martina Hingis. She managed to reach the fourth round in singles at all three Grand Slams, two Grand Slam doubles finals and one Grand Slam mixed doubles final.

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In 2000, Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis continued to do damage on the courts, and ended the season with a career ranking of No. 8. She even defeated Lindsay Davenport and Nathalie Tauziat on the way to the fifth semifinal of that year in San Diego. She later moved down the rankings to No. 19 and beat Sandrine Testud before losing to Venus Williams. At the 2000 German Open in May, Anna Kournikova experienced the first in what would become a string of injuries.