She was once one of the most famous tennis players in the world and won a Grand Slam at the age of only 17.
But this week Anna Kournikova – who retired from the sport in 2003 – shocked fans after he was seen in a wheelchair in Bal Harbor, a luxurious shopping center in Miami.
It marked the first photos that would come from the 43-year-old in more than two years.
Accompanied by her two young daughters, the images showed her fingers packed in a pink band help and her leg, in an orthopedic boot.
Although the nature of her injury – as well as when she may have suffered it – is unclear, the star is no stranger to health struggle that has lived a life with fears she has discussed frankly.
Kournikova mentioned it on her career on the track at the age of just 21 after winning 16 career writings in the Doubles game.
She reached a career-high ranking of number 1 in Doubles after winning the Australian Open alongside partner Martina Hingis in 1999 who called herself the 'Spice Girls of Tennis'.
However, she was forced to retire after a series of injuries, mainly back problems and stress fractures.
Anna Kournikova was once one of the most famous tennis player on the planet and won a Grand Slam at the age of only 17
This week Anna Kournikova – who retired from the sport in 2003 – shocked fans after he was seen in a wheelchair in Bal Harbor, a luxurious shopping center in Miami
It marked the first photos that would come from the 43-year-old in more than two years. Accompanied by her two young daughters, the images showed her fingers wrapped in a pink band help and bone, in an orthopedic boot
In the summer of 2003, weeks before she announced her retirement, she was forced to draw from two important grass tournaments prior to Wimbledon, diagnosed with chronic lumbar dysfunction.
The condition causes stiffness and pain in the lower back and legs, as well as pins and needles or numbness.
It is often caused by spinal discs that push nerve roots or suddenly trauma to the spine.
After she was noticed in a tearful discussion with her coach and with connections on her back, she said: 'I was advised not to play this week or next week and I know no further than that.
“They said my injury was chronic because it keeps coming back.
“It is the same problem that I have had open since the Australian and it gives me a referred pain in other areas, but it all comes from my back.”
Then, in October 2003, she told the guardian that she “in fact had an injury almost every year.”
She remembered: 'In '97 I had a stress fracture and I was out for three months.
In the summer of 2003, weeks before she announced her retirement, she was forced to draw from two important grass tournaments prior to Wimbledon, diagnosed with chronic lumbar dysfunction
She reached a career-high ranking of number 1 in Doubles after winning the Australian Open alongside partner Martina Hingis (photo) in 1999 who called herself the 'Spice Girls of Tennis'
Although the nature of her injury – as well as if she might have suffered it – was unclear, the star is no stranger to the health struggle that a life lived with fears she has discussed frankly
“In '98 I had a torn ligament in my thumb and was out for three months; In '99 I still had a stress fracture for three months. In 2001 I didn't actually play all year round. '
In the same interview, her then agent Phil de Picciotto speculated that her back injuries that include a hernia, “hereditary or training at a young age or too much tennis or bad luck”.
He added: “They just don't know exactly.”
Years later in 2011, reflective on her short tennis career, she also revealed to People Magazine that she never 'planned or thought it would be'.
She remembered: 'My back really forced me to stop. It got so bad; I literally couldn't bind my shoes.
“I would have unbearable pain. I had done six to eight hours [of training] Every day since I was 5 years old.
'It was very interesting for me to stop playing and finding out:' Who am I without tennis? “It was very difficult and scary like hell.
“I did everything, from therapy to 10 hours of walks on the beach to discover and think and try new things.”
Since then, the retired tennis player has largely kept her private life out of the spotlight, apart from the incidental tribute Instagram Post to the father of her children and long -term boyfriend, Enrique Iglesias. Portrayed together
In October 2003 she told The Guardian that she 'in fact had an injury to her tennis career almost every year. Shown in 1998
Since then, the retired tennis player has largely kept her private life out of the spotlight, apart from the incidental tribute Instagram Post to the father of her children and long -term boyfriend, Enrique Iglesias.
The Spanish singer and Kournikova have been dating since 2001 after the ex-Tennis Pro appeared as the love interest of Iglesias in the video clip for his hit single 'Escape'.
The singer-songwriter has been more open about their family life.
“I relax at home with the children, enjoying them to take them to school and see them grow,” he said 40 Music Awards during the 2024.
'I have twins who are six and a girl who is four, so they grow so fast every day.
“I want to enjoy that. They are already adults in 24 hours. '
The couple is currently sharing a house in Miami, where they raise their three children.
