She was a teenage tennis sensation with the world at her feet.

But Anna Kournikova, now 42, keeps herself out of the limelight in her new life as a doting mother and partner. It's a far cry from the fame which swept her up at such a young age in the late 90s.

The Russian makes Emma Raducanu look like a pensioner having burst onto the scene at just 14. But after seven whirlwind years, she called time on her career when most are just getting started.

READ MORE: Former Wimbledon winner and gorgeous model becomes latest athlete to join OnlyFans

Despite only ranking as high as eighth in the world as a singles star, and never reaching the final of a Grand Slam on her own, Kournikova became known around the globe.

She had a guest role in sitcom Friends, was crowned the world's sexiest woman by FHM magazine in 2002, and was dubbed “the Spice Girls of tennis" with doubles partner Martina Hingis.

Understandably, it was a lot to handle. "Being in the spotlight since I was a child was really hard," she recalled.

What do you remember of Kournikova's career? Let us know in the comments section below

ANNA KOURNIKOVA
Kournikova was named the world's sexiest woman at the height of her fame
Anna Kournikova
She's still got it in her 40s

“I did feel pressure when people were saying things like, ‘You’re too pretty, you can’t play,’ or whatever. I would get so nervous and get anxiety on the court, I wouldn’t be able to move.”

Kournikova did triumph with Hingis by her side, twice winning the Australian Open and achieving world No. 1 status.

Injuries, namely serious back and spinal problems, ultimately brought a premature end to her professional playing days.

Anna Kournikova
The Russian retired aged just 21
Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova
She met Enrique Iglesias on the set of a music video

But her celebrity status meant she already had everything she needed - including Iglesias, who she first met when appearing in the music video for his 2001 hit Escape.

They began dating soon after and haven't looked back, with Kournikova giving birth to twins Nicholas and Lucy in 2017 before they welcomed their third child, Mary, in 2020.

And that's no wonder given Iglesias candidly revealed in a 2018 interview with The Sun: “It’s probably more sex now than ever. The sex has not diminished.”

Anna Kournikova at World Music Awards in October 2003
Kournikova was a red carpet regular in the early 2000s

From the little Kournikova, who has adopted her beau's last name but is yet to marry him, shares on social media she still looks as stunning as ever.

And while she's happy with no longer being one of the most Googled people on the planet, she looks back on her younger life with fondness.

Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova with their three children
She now lives a quiet family life

“It’s really strange, it feels like it happened to me but it didn’t happen to me because it was such a long time ago," Kournikova said. "I played in every single continent by the time I was 16.

“It was an interesting way to grow up. When I stopped, most people had just come out of college and I was stopping the only thing I knew.”