Gabriela Beatriz Sabatini, popularly known as Gabby or the Princess of the Pampas, is considered to be one of the most talented tennis players. The Argentine tennis player was one of the most admired and skilled tennis players on the women’s circuit in the late-1980s and early-1990s.

Gabriela Sabatini won accolades from players of her times, stalwarts, and critics for her versatile stylish game and perceived attractiveness. Sabatini started playing tennis at the young age of 6 and surprised many by winning her first tournament at the age of 8 years when most girls are playing with their Barbie dolls.

Sabatini rose to stardom when she became the youngest-ever player to reach the French Open semi-finals where she lost to Chris Evert. The 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul saw Gabriela Sabatini winning the silver medal for her country, Argentina. Born on 16 May 1970, Sabatini turned professional in January 1985 and won the Wimbledon in 1988 and the US Open in 1990. The year 1991 was turning point in this tennis great’s career when she won five tournaments in the first half of the year.

In 1994, Gabriela Sabatini published a motivational book entitled My Story on the inspirations behind her to become a tennis player. The “beautiful artist” on the tennis ground retired in 1996 but has been an inspiration for many of today’s tennis players. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 15, 2006.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites

Popularly known as Anna Kournikova, the semi retired professional Russian tennis player Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova was born on 7 June 1981. She is favourite among the male fans for her celebrity status. Kournikova is of the most common search strings on the internet search engine Google.

Kournikova is famous for her doubles, where she has at times been the world’s number one-ranked player. She along with Martina Hingis has won Grand Slam titles in Australia in 1999 and 2002. Kournikova’s major-league tennis career ended, by serious back and spinal problems. Born in Moscow in the former Soviet Union to she along

with her mother immigrated to the United States. Currently, she resides in Miami Beach, Florida. Anna’s father, Sergei Kournikov was was a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion who also had a Ph.D and was a professor at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow.

In 1986, Anna joined the prestigious Spartak Tennis Club. She at the age of 8 in1989 began appearing in junior tournaments, and by the following year, was attracting attention from tennis scouts across the world. After arriving in the United States, Anna exploded onto the tennis scene. She won the European Championships and the Italian Open Junior tournament. She became youngest player ever to win the 18 and under division at that tournament. Anna Kournikova made her debut in professional tennis at age 14 in the Fed Cup. Kournikova was a member of the Russian delegation to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year[, and was ranked No. 57 in the end of the season.

Kournikova has not taken part on the WTA Tour since 2003, but still plays exhibition matches for charitable causes. She is the current K-Swiss spokesperson.

In a feature for ELLE magazine’s July 2005 issue, Kournikova stated that if she were 100% fit, she would like to come back and compete again.

Kournikova was noted for her foot speed and aggressive baseline play. She holds racket in her right hand but uses both hands while playing backhand shots. She is often compared to doubles specialists as Pam Shriver and Peter Fleming.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites