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Kournikova
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Kournikova was a member of the Russian delegation to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1997, as a 16-year-old, she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon, where she lost to the eventual champion, Martina Hingis by a score of 6-3, 6-2. 1998 was her breakthrough year, when she broke into the WTA's top 20 rankings for the first time and scored impressive victories over Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, and Steffi Graf. Kournikova's two Grand Slam doubles titles came in 1999 and 2002, both at the Australian Open in the Women's Doubles event with partner Martina Hingis, with whom she played frequently starting in 1999.
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Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova (born June 7, 1981) is a retired Russian professional tennis player and model. Renowned for her beauty and waist-length blonde hair as well as her tennis game, she became one of the best known tennis players worldwide, even among those who do not follow the game.
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Kournikova, beset by injuries in 2001 and 2002, does have two Grand Slam women's doubles titles. She and Martina Hingis teamed together to capture the Australian Open in 1999 and 2002 (they no longer play together). She was ranked as high as eighth among singles in May, 2001, before injuring her ankle. As 2002 ended, Kournikova was playing Monica Seles in exhibition matches. In tune-ups for the January, 2003 Australian Open, she was 35th in the Women's Tennis Association rankings. As the year 2003 began, Kournikova's pro singles career tournament drought stood at 115.
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Her pro career has had its ups and downs, and after nagging back injuries Kournikova has all but given up professional tennis. After a promising start to her career, she never won a pro singles tournament but managed a consistent top-20 ranking. She did... excel on the doubles circuit. Frequently paired with Martina Hingis, the duo ranked number-one and took 16 doubles titles (including three Grand Slam events).
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In her early teens, Kournikova signed a management deal and headed to Florida for tennis training with coach Nick Bolletierri, who compared her to John McEnroe. When she went professional at 15, she made it to the fourth round at the 1996 U.S. Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1997. Known for dominating in doubles, Kournikova limited her playing to charity causes in 2004 due to injuries she sustained while playing competitively. Frequently named on lists of the most beautiful and sexy women, she is ... one of the most searched people on the Internet. Aside from ongoing endorsement deals, Kournikova has recently expressed an interest in fencing.
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Kournikova's first Grand Slam title came in 1999 at the Australian Open in the Womens Doubles event with partner Martina Hingis. Kournikova and Hingis have frequently played as doubles partners. While consistently ranked in the top 20 in the WTA tour rankings, she has never won a professional singles tournament (though has made the semi-finals and finals of many). Her serve is notably weak for a top-level tennis player.
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Kournikova