At just 21 years old, Anna Kournikova’s promising tennis career came to an abrupt halt due to a chronic back injury.
Despite her athletic setbacks, she remained a global sensation.
Her fame quickly extended beyond the court, with her status as a high-profile model and media personality surpassing her tennis achievements.
Kournikova had made a name for herself, reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals and achieving a career-best ranking of number eight in the world.
But what truly set her apart was her marketability, offering endless opportunities in modeling, broadcasting, or whatever direction she chose to go.
A Life in the Spotlight
With millions of dollars in the bank and a relationship with Spanish pop icon Enrique Iglesias, Kournikova’s life was a whirlwind of fame and luxury.
The two met while filming a music video in 2001, and by then, she was already a worldwide figure.
Kournikova’s presence was undeniable—whether on a tennis court or simply out and about with Iglesias.
But what no one could have predicted was how Kournikova, once the face of global stardom, would gradually retreat from the spotlight and keep her personal life mostly private.
Keeping Things Private
Now, 22 years later, Kournikova and Iglesias have managed to keep much of their relationship under wraps, despite both being household names.
Iglesias, dubbed ‘the King of Latin pop’ and with almost 19 million Instagram followers, and Kournikova, once known for her frequent social media posts, have managed to maintain an aura of mystery.
This is particularly remarkable in a time when celebrities regularly share personal moments on social media.
Kournikova and Iglesias have three children: twins Lucy and Nicholas, born in December 2017, and their daughter Mary, born in January 2020.
Remarkably, Kournikova didn’t announce either pregnancy ahead of time, only posting pictures after her children’s births.
A Shift in Priorities
As Kournikova’s life has shifted to focus on motherhood, her social media presence has reflected these changes.
Once filled with modeling shots and images of her dogs, her Instagram is now reserved for rare family moments.
This shift in focus isn’t surprising; children often change a person’s priorities.
What may surprise some is that Kournikova always had a broader perspective on life beyond tennis.
She was never solely defined by her looks or her career—two things people often fixated on during her time on the tennis circuit.
Kournikova herself even commented at age 15, “Tennis is not the only thing that matters in life.”
A Perspective on Aging
By the time Kournikova was 27, she had a more mature outlook on life.
“Why are people afraid of getting older?” she once said.
“You feel wiser, you feel more mature, you feel like you know yourself better. You would trade that for softer skin? Not me!”
These sentiments, shared during a period when her relationship with Iglesias had already become public, paint a picture of a woman who has always had a sense of self-awareness beyond the superficial aspects of fame.
The Evolution of Her Relationship with Iglesias
Their relationship, which started in the highly publicized 2001 music video for Iglesias’s hit “Escape,” initially thrust them into the media spotlight.
By 2004, rumors circulated about a potential marriage, but the couple never confirmed any details.
In 2007, Iglesias made headlines when he jokingly told a Swedish newspaper that they were divorced, but his comments were dismissed.
Despite never officially marrying, Kournikova and Iglesias have continued their relationship with the same commitment they’ve always had.
For Iglesias, marriage was never a necessity for a lasting relationship.
He stated in a 2012 interview, “Maybe it’s because I come from divorced parents, but I don’t think you love someone more because of a piece of paper.”
A Family-Focused Future
In a 2008 interview, Kournikova made her stance clear when it came to family.
“I absolutely want to have children, whether I have my own or adopt,” she said.
She went on to emphasize that while marriage wasn’t important to her, being in a committed and trusting relationship was.
The couple’s bond seems to be rooted in that trust, with Iglesias saying in a 2018 interview that their intimacy had only grown stronger over the years.
Kournikova’s Life Today
Despite their celebrity status, Kournikova and Iglesias continue to lead a relatively private life.
Even a recent public appearance of Kournikova in a wheelchair at a Miami resort didn’t stir the kind of frenzy one might expect.
The couple has learned to live without the constant glare of the paparazzi, choosing instead to keep their family life protected from the public eye.
For Kournikova, stepping away from the tennis world allowed her to live the quiet life she always sought.
“Girls look at him, guys look at me,” she once said.
“It goes with the job. But it gets annoying when you feel violated—just take the picture.”
In many ways, Kournikova has found the life she always wanted, even if it’s far removed from what people once imagined for her.
It may not be as glamorous as the life of a global tennis star, but it’s a life that’s true to her.
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