List of Famous Tennis Players
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List of famous tennis players, with photos, bios, and other information when available. Who are the top tennis players in the world? This includes the most ...
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Maria Sharapova, born April 19, 1987 in Nyagan, Russia, is a globally recognized figure in the world of tennis. Her journey to international acclaim began when she moved to the United States at the tender age of seven to train at the renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Displaying an innate talent for the sport from a young age, her relentless drive and determination paved the way for a career in professional tennis. Sharapova's breakthrough came in 2004, when at just 17, she defeated Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final, becoming the third youngest player to capture the coveted trophy. Her powerful style of play and unwavering focus led her to secure victories in all four Grand Slam tournaments over the course of her career, a feat only achieved by a select few in the history of the game. Notably, she triumphed at the Australian Open in 2008, the French Open in 2012 and 2014, and the US Open in 2006. However, Sharapova's career was not without controversy. In 2016, she faced a 15-month suspension from the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for a banned substance. Despite this setback, she made a victorious return to the sport in 2017. Off the court, Sharapova has leveraged her fame and success into a variety of business ventures, including the launch of her own candy line, Sugarpova. She announced her retirement from professional tennis in 2020, leaving behind a legacy marked by fierce competition, remarkable resilience, and undeniable talent.

Anna Kournikova, born on June 7, 1981, in Moscow, Russia, is a renowned figure in the world of tennis. Her journey began at the tender age of five when she picked up her first tennis racket, and by eight, she was already making waves in the Moscow Youth Tennis Program. By the time she was ten years old, her prodigious talent had caught the attention of the International Management Group (IMG), who offered her an opportunity to train at the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, USA. Kournikova's professional career took off at the age of 14 when she became the youngest player ever to win the Fed Cup for the Russian Federation. This remarkable achievement was swiftly followed by her winning the European Championships and the Italian Open Junior tournament, which collectively propelled her to the top rank in the International Tennis Federation junior world singles ranking. In 1997, she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon at the age of 16, which was a feat that catapulted her into the global limelight and marked her arrival on the grand stage of professional tennis. However, Kournikova's career wasn't just about singles play; she also excelled in doubles. Teaming up with Swiss sensation Martina Hingis, they became one of the most formidable duos in women's doubles, earning them the moniker "Spice Girls of Tennis". Together, they clinched two Grand Slam Titles at the Australian Open in 1999 and 2002. Despite never winning a singles title, Kournikova's photogenic looks and charismatic personality made her one of the most recognizable and marketable athletes globally. After retiring from competitive tennis in 2003 due to serious back and spinal problems, Kournikova transitioned into various ventures including modeling, television presenting, and philanthropy, further cementing her status as one of the most influential figures in the world of sports.

Ana Ivanovic Schweinsteiger (Serbian: Ана Швајнштајгер / Ana Švajnštajger; born 6 November 1987), professionally known by her maiden name Ana Ivanovic (Ана Ивановић / Ana Ivanović, pronounced [âna ǐʋanoʋitɕ, ǎː-] (listen);) is a Serbian retired professional tennis player. She was ranked No. 1 in the world in 2008, after she had defeated Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open. She was also the runner-up at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open. She qualified for the annual WTA Tour Championships three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2014 and won the year-end WTA Tournament of Champions twice, in 2010 and 2011.Competing as a professional from 2003 until 2016, Ivanovic won 14 WTA Tour singles titles, and one Grand Slam singles title, the French Open in 2008. Additionally during this time, she earned over $15 million in prize money, which is the 20th highest in the all-time rankings. In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time and was also included on the list of "Top 100 Greatest Players Ever" (male and female combined) by reporter Matthew Cronin.Her first breakthrough came at the 2004 Zurich Open, where she qualified and was narrowly beaten by Venus Williams in the second round in two tiebreak sets. By the age of 18, Ivanovic had already defeated established players such as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva and Amélie Mauresmo. She also defeated many other past and present top players including Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams, Dinara Safina, Martina Hingis, Jelena Janković, Agnieszka Radwańska, Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitová, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka. Ivanovic was known for her aggressive style of play and impressive forehand, described by Petrova as "the best out there."Ivanovic's struggles after winning the 2008 French Open were well documented. After that victory, she was overwhelmed by attention and endured an ongoing period of reduced success, failing to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal in her subsequent 17 Grand Slam tournaments, and dropping as low as No. 65 in the rankings during July 2010. In 2014, Ivanovic enjoyed a resurgence, beginning with her victory in the Auckland Open, her first singles title in over two years, before going on to win the Monterrey Open, Aegon Classic and the Pan Pacific Open. She qualified for competition in the WTA Tour Championships and secured a year-end ranking of No. 5, signifying her return to the world's elite. In 2015, Ivanovic made it to the semifinals of a major for the first time in seven years at the French Open. In late December 2016, she announced her retirement, citing being no longer able to perform to a high standard as a major factor.

Lars Ulrich, best known as the founding member and drummer of the globally renowned heavy metal band Metallica, was born in Denmark in 1963. The son of professional tennis player Torben Ulrich, Lars initially walked in his father's footsteps and played tennis at a competitive level in his youth. However, his life took an unexpected turn after he attended a Deep Purple concert at the tender age of nine. The experience ignited a deep passion for music in him that eventually led to the inception of one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Moving to Los Angeles in the early '80s, Ulrich placed an ad in the local newspaper looking for like-minded musicians to form a band. This ad caught the attention of James Hetfield, marking the beginning of Metallica. Ulrich's aggressive drumming style and songwriting contributions have been integral to the band's evolution and success. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the band's popularity has soared over the decades due predominantly to classics such as "Master of Puppets," "Enter Sandman," and "Nothing Else Matters," which Ulrich co-wrote. In addition to his career with Metallica, Ulrich made significant contributions to the music industry as a whole. He was one of the leading figures who campaigned against Napster, a peer-to-peer file sharing platform, arguing it violated copyright laws. This move sparked a heated debate on digital music rights, reshaping the music industry's approach to online content distribution. Ulrich also acted in several films, including HBO's Hemingway & Gellhorn and the critically acclaimed movie Get Him to the Greek. His passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of his craft have undoubtedly cemented his legacy as an influential figure in the world of heavy metal music.