Anna Kournikova

With her parents being experienced athletes, it’s no surprise Anna Kournikova eventually developed a passion for sports, especially in tennis. After receiving her first tennis racket when she was five years old, she trained in local children’s programs before finally making her way into the junior leagues. Throughout that period, she had garnered plenty of recognition from talent scouts and other tennis enthusiasts.

Well, a few years later, Kournikova finally made it to the big leagues. While she may have showcased an impressive skill set as a singles player, she was arguably at her best when she played doubles – she even landed the number-one spot on the rankings with her partner, Martina Hingis. With that said, Kournikova finally retired from her professional career in 2003, though she still plays tennis on special occasions. Along with her stints on modeling and TV, it’s no wonder she also takes credit for being one of the most popular tennis players around.