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She was the world's topped-ranked junior at the end of 1995, shortly after Martina Hingis joined the professional ranks. Kournikova herself turned professional in 1996, and competed in her first grand slam at the US OPEN that year. She performed exceptionally well, defeating seeded players before finally falling to eventual champion Steffi Graf in the 4th round. In 1997, she affirmed her position amongst the world's top players, with the highlight being a semi-final appearance at her first Wimbledon as a professional. Russian-born Anna Kournikova left Moscow at the age of 9 to come to Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, USA - the same academy which has also produced Monica Seles and Andre Agassi.
Kournikova says her game wasn't modelled after any one player, although lists Graf and Seles as players she has learnt from, watching television.
Kournikova is indeed superstar material, with glamourous looks (she says if not for tennis, her passion would be acting) and an aggressive all-court game to match. In fact, she has had an agent since the age of 10.
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