The reclusive life of Anna Kournikova who withdrew from the spotlight after retiring age 21 to live a quiet life with Enrique Iglesias – after it was revealed she is pregnant with fourth child at 44

by

This week, it became known that ex-tennis star Anna Kournikova and her partner Enrique Iglesias are expecting their fourth child.

Although Anna, now 44 years old, was once frequently captured on camera and known as one of the world’s most photographed women, she has lived a relatively secluded life after her retirement at just 21 years of age.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share that the elusive former sports legend resides in a magnificent Miami estate, boasting a formidable 16ft barrier to shield his privacy from prying gazes. Accompanying him are his beloved family members – Enrique and our adorable twins, Lucy and Nicholas (age seven), as well as their charming five-year-old daughter, Mary.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that into: Over the past few years, my personal life has been rather private, much like the journey my partner and I embarked on back when we first met on the set of a renowned artist’s music video for his 2001 hit single, Escape.

In January, Anna, believed to be halfway through her pregnancy, drew worry after she was photographed using a wheelchair during her initial public outing in the past two years.

Lately, she’s often spotted taking her kids to martial arts classes in Miami, allaying concerns about any ongoing health worries mere weeks ago.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I’ve been yearning for more of Anna, the tennis sensation who’s been keeping her skills hidden from us tennis aficionados, unlike Enrique who’s been winning hearts consistently on his tours.

In the upscale Bal Harbour shopping mall in Miami, she was spotted using a wheelchair with her loved ones in January.

In early August, she was spotted in the SoFlo area while out and about, sporting an orthopedic boot on one foot. This could indicate a recent injury, but her overall well-being seemed good, suggesting a quick recovery.

In the peak of her celebrity status, Anna found herself attracting not only the persistent attention of photographers but also uninformed criticisms suggesting an alleged imbalance between her beauty and her ability.

The images showing Anna in a wheelchair conveyed far more about her, the ex-tennis legend, than any thousand polished photo sessions possibly could.

They subtly hinted at the painful ordeal of injuries that ultimately led Anna, who attained the Wimbledon semifinals in 1997 and peaked with a career-best ranking of No 8 globally, to retire early at the age of 21.

Over two years since last catching a glimpse of Anna, I finally laid my eyes on fresh photos that painted a striking image – there she was, clad in an orthopaedic boot and flanked by her precious little daughters. These images weren’t just snaps; they were chapters in the unfolding narrative of a remarkable woman who has weathered an ocean of change since stepping away from the limelight of sports.

Presenting a depiction of the former child prodigy in the role of a mother, along with a subtle recognition of the intimate, family-oriented lifestyle that the secluded Russian artist has embraced during the years following the dimming of the flashlights and public attention.

Anna’s private life, which was once a constant topic of media scrutiny, with headlines like “Anna’s love life: A new man in every country!” becoming commonplace, is no longer a regular feature in the gossip columns. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, she even joked about it by saying, ‘In each country I visit, I have a different boyfriend and I kiss them all.’ However, these discussions have now subsided significantly.

Since 2001, a Russian individual has been in a long-term relationship with a Spanish singer. Despite not having a public wedding ceremony, the couple’s marital status is unclear as he vaguely hinted two years ago that they could be married without an official public declaration.

Anna’s strong preference for seclusion, as demonstrated by the towering 16-foot walls enclosing her family’s residence, is not just a response to spending her youth under public scrutiny on a global scale. Instead, it could be seen as an ongoing personal choice or lifestyle preference.

In the year 2005, about two years following her retirement, she found herself the subject of unwanted attention from a man named William Lepeska. This individual attempted an unusual approach by swimming naked across Biscayne Bay aiming to reach her house, hoping she would rescue him from drowning.

In this scenario, Lepeska, under a court order mandating a minimum distance of 1,000 feet from Kournikova, mistakenly swam to the wrong residence.

Kournikova expressed intense surprise, fear, and concern for her safety after the incident. In response, she took steps such as hiring bodyguards and enhancing security at her residence.

‘It was very frightening and scary, just knowing there is someone out there who’s obsessive.’

Due to the controversial way she was depicted during her teenage years, with Sports Illustrated labeling her a ‘teened-up seductress’ at just 16 years old, it seemed sad but almost predictable that such an incident would occur.

In 2002, when Anna was recognized as the world’s sexiest woman by the men’s magazine FHM, she was already well-known due to her appearance in an advertisement for a sports bra. The advertisement’s catchphrase read: “Only the ball should bounce.

In early 2001, a computer virus emerged that was inspired by her, and an email attachment claiming to contain her picture spread rapidly, much like a wildfire. The following year, she garnered notice on the popular TV show “Friends” during its penultimate season.

Despite being poorly depicted, Anna’s determination didn’t wane, leading to her title as the highest-earning female athlete globally. Moreover, her achievements, impressive enough to make many other players envious, were not hindered by her portrayal.

Back then, as an utterly smitten fan, I couldn’t help but cheer for Anna every time she stepped onto the court. She not only reached the top ten and made it to a major semi-final, but she also bagged two Australian Open women’s doubles titles with prodigious partner Martina Hingis. To add to her glory, she was a consistent presence in the latter stages of grand slam doubles events during the late 90s and early 2000s. It was a thrilling time to be a fan!

In the realm of tennis, she reached at least the quarterfinals in both women’s and mixed doubles events for all four major tournaments. She also made it to the finals at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Moreover, she achieved the top position in the world rankings for doubles in 1999.

Notably insignificant was the impact she had on the subsequent generation of Russian tennis players. Within a year after her retirement, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Anastasia Myskina each claimed a grand slam title, and since then, Russian players have consistently ranked among the top tier in the sport.

Kuznetsova acknowledges that Kournikova played a significant role in elevating Russian tennis to prominence, with Kuznetsova herself being a French Open and US Open champion and a former world No 2. However, she is clear that Kournikova was the one who put Russian tennis on the global tennis map.

In 2017, Kuznetsova stated that she had significantly elevated the reputation of women’s tennis in Russia, with many players aiming to emulate her success afterwards.

Regardless of people commenting that she’s never won a tournament, I’ve always stood by her because she was consistently ranked among the top 10 players worldwide. Her impact went beyond tournament victories; she served as an inspiring figure for tennis, not just in Russia but globally.

It seemed everyone was stating that she had never triumphed in a tournament. However, I found myself questioning: have any of them made it to the top 10 rankings? Have they even wielded a tennis racket? Frankly, it’s often astonishing how people voice such opinions without having attained success themselves.

‘I think she was great.’

Although some may underestimate her impact, it’s fair to say that Kournikova’s influence on sports and culture is significantly more substantial than often assumed by many.

Read More

2025-08-28 14:50