Anna Kournikova, once a household name in the tennis world, has largely retreated from the public eye, opting instead for a quieter life centered around her family. The former athlete, known for her stunning looks and impressive skills on the court, has focused on her relationship with pop star Enrique Iglesias and their three young children. Kournikova appears to have little desire to benefit from the media attention that once surrounded her, a sentiment she has expressed on several occasions.
Reflecting on her early days, Kournikova revealed her struggles with constant media attention. At a press conference after a friendly match in 2010, she said: “The fame and everything else, I guess most of it was created by you guys, by the media many times, most of the time. time by the yellow press. I never tried to pay attention to it. Despite her efforts to ignore the noise, the young athlete struggled to escape the spotlight, especially as a teenager. “It was a little hard sometimes to deal with being 16, 17 and reading shit about yourself,” she admitted.
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Kournikova’s media portrayal often focused more on her appearance than her accomplishments as an athlete, a fact she found frustrating. She recalled her Wimbledon debut in 1997, just days after turning 16, saying: “They took all these pictures of my butt.” This excessive focus on his appearance rather than his talent contributed to his decision to walk away from the sport in the early 2000s.
Kournikova’s very promising tennis career was unfortunately cut short due to a series of injuries. Despite her love for the game, these injuries plagued her throughout her career. In a 2003 interview with the Guardian, she explained: “Basically, I got injured almost every year. » She faced many setbacks, including stress fractures and torn ligaments, but the biggest blow came in 2001 when she suffered a serious foot injury that required surgery. “In 2001, I didn’t play the whole year,” she remembers. Her return in 2002 was short-lived as more injuries followed, eventually forcing her to retire from professional tennis in 2003. “My back really forced me to stop. It’s gotten so bad; I literally couldn’t tie my shoes. I would suffer excruciatingly,” she shared in a 2011 interview.
Since her retirement, Kournikova has devoted her life to her family. Although she briefly flirted with a career in reality television, her stint on “The Biggest Loser” ended after just one season due to complaints about its harsh approach. Since then, Kournikova has largely shunned the limelight, preferring to focus on her partner and their children.
In 2017, Kournikova and Iglesias welcomed twins, a joyful event they managed to keep secret. A source told People: “They basically only hang out with their family and very close friends. Most of the time they stay alone. The couple’s commitment to privacy is evident in their parenting style, as they cherish time spent together as a family. Iglesias expressed his love for fatherhood during a concert in March 2018, saying, “I became a father 12 weeks ago and I can absolutely tell you two things: I love my babies! I like them very much.
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Two years later, Kournikova and Iglesias expanded their family again and welcomed a daughter in January 2020. Since becoming a mother, Kournikova has devoted much of her time to her children, often sharing glimpses of her family life on social networks. Although his posts are infrequent, they consistently feature Iglesias and their children, illustrating the joy they find in their family life. Her last Instagram update was in June 2024, where she celebrated Father’s Day with a heartfelt message for Iglesias: “Happy Father’s Day to my man.”
As Anna Kournikova continues to live her life away from the tennis courts and media attention, it’s clear that her priorities have shifted toward family and personal happiness. The once-famous athlete found fulfillment in her role as a mother and partner, choosing to live a life that values intimacy and love over the glitz and glamor of fame.