Retired tennis star Anna Kournikova shocked fans with her frail appearance in a wheelchair while out on February 4 – her first public appearance in two years – and a source exclusively tells In Touch the fragile-looking sports icon is leaning on friends and family as she goes out of her way to avoid the limelight for the foreseeable future.
The source says that after retiring from both pro sports and entertainment, “Anna has no interest in fame.” Nowadays, “she loves her quiet life at home with Enrique [Iglesias] and their kids.”
The Russian pro athlete-turned actress and television presenter, 43, peaked at No. 8 in the world in 2000, but had an impact that extended far beyond tennis. In what can now be reflected upon as a characteristic cultural moment of the early 2000s, she began dating singer Enrique, 49, in 2001 after he invited her to appear alongside him in his music video for “Escape”. They’re still together and share three children: son and daughter twins, Nicholas and Lucy, 7, daughter Mary, 5.
Following a herniated disc that ended her tennis career in 2003, Anna became one of the most popular athletes in the world and transitioned on a small scale to acting and reality television, which garnered a lot of attention – both sought and not. The source notes that now the former tennis icon is “genuinely afraid of the spotlight,” due to the experience. “When she was at the height of her fame, it was so invasive it nearly wrecked her. She has massive walls for privacy and safety at her home in Miami as well as a serious number of bodyguards to keep people away.”
“She and Enrique spend most of their time at home,” the insider continues. “When they go out, they keep it low key and avoid the hot new places where they’ll get photographed. They have a small circle of close friends; they don’t need to go out looking for attention or entertainment.”
Despite her best efforts, Anna was spotted and photographed at a shopping center in Miami earlier in February being pushed in a wheelchair and wearing a medical boot on her right foot, prompting fans to worry and speculate over her gaunt appearance. She has yet to confirm the exact cause of her injury, as “she’s being very hush hush about her latest health issue,” the source says, adding, “but that’s typical of her.”
Though, Anna’s mother-in-law, Isabel Preysler, spilled some info to HOLA! just before boarding a flight in Miami the following day, telling the publication, “It’s nothing serious, just a minor foot injury. It’s a small sprain, but you know how painful those can be.”
For someone who once dominated celebrity news, perhaps leaks were inevitably regarding a mysterious injury, but according to the insider she’d prefer to be left alone. “She’s fiercely private and doesn’t think it’s anyone’s business but hers and Enrique’s. The same goes for her relationship with him, she doesn’t need to flaunt it, they’ve been together nearly 25 years, it’s very solid.”
“She trusts him implicitly and doesn’t bat an eye at his flirty reputation, she knows it’s all part of him connecting with fans.”
