Anna Kournikova has always garnered more attention for her looks than her tennis prowess, even when she was a 16-year-old phenom on her way to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1997. Along for the ride was sportswear heavyweight, Adidas, who clothed the blonde beauty for most of her professional career and beyond.
Since unofficially retiring from the WTA Tour with a chronic back injury a few years ago, Kournikova, now 25, has remained active in tennis circles by participating in exhibitions, charity events, and World Team Tennis. The Russian-born, Florida-based Kournikova has not been keeping a low profile in her adopted hometown of Miami either, frequently appearing on the social scene on the arm of her long-time boyfriend and rumored fiancé, singer Enrique Iglesias.
Now Kournikova is shedding her three stripes for a new partner, K-Swiss. The former top-10 player is currently in Los Angeles filming two television commercials for the shoe and clothing firm. They’ll begin airing on the first day of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on March 19.
This fall, Kournikova will also appear in print ads in various women’s fashion and lifestyle magazines to promote the Swiss company, which is attempting to produce a more feminine and appealing line for tennis goers and yoga enthusiasts. Kournikova will also collaborate with the label in design concepts for the new line.
K-Swiss has previously sponsored doubles legends Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, and currently sponsors Australian Open doubles champs Cara Black and Liezel Huber.
Click here to read Kournikova's description of her life after tennis.