Inspiring story of the day: “Tennis gave me my life. I don’t know what I would have done without it” – How Anna Kournikova inspired Eugenie Bouchard and a new generation of tennis stars (Image via Getty) Before Anna Kournikova became one of the most recognisable faces in world sport, she was a determined young girl from Moscow chasing a dream with a tennis racket in her hand. Her family made sacrifices to help her pursue the sport she loved, and by the time she was a teenager, she had become one of tennis’ brightest young stars. But with success came intense public scrutiny that often overshadowed her achievements on the court. Years later, former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard revealed how Kournikova’s journey inspired her not only to dream of becoming a professional tennis player but also to deal with the pressures that come with fame.
How Anna Kournikova’s tennis journey inspired a young Eugenie Bouchard
Anna Kournikova was born on June 7, 1981, in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union. She started playing tennis at a young age and quickly showed exceptional talent. Her family supported her ambitions, making personal sacrifices as she trained and competed before eventually moving to the United States to continue her development.Looking back on what the sport meant to her, Kournikova once said:“Tennis gave me my life. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”That passion for tennis reached children around the world, including a young Eugenie Bouchard in Canada. While many people focused on Kournikova’s fame away from the court, Bouchard saw someone she wanted to become.Recalling her childhood, Bouchard said:“I say this to people and I say, I wanted to be just like her. I thought she was so cool and good and pretty. And I wanted to use the exact… My parents bought me Yonex jackets because that’s what she used.”That admiration stayed with Bouchard throughout her childhood and eventually helped fuel her own journey to the 2014 Wimbledon final and a career-high world No. 5 ranking.
Eugenie Bouchard defended Anna Kournikova’s forgotten tennis legacy
Although Kournikova reached world No. 8 in singles, made the Wimbledon semifinals at just 16 years old and won two Grand Slam doubles titles with Martina Hingis, many critics chose to focus more on her celebrity status than her achievements.Bouchard has never agreed with that criticism. Speaking about her childhood idol, she passionately defended Kournikova’s legacy.“And people give her so much hate. I’m like, you get to eight in the world in your field and then come back and talk to me. She got to eight in the world in singles, semis of Wimbledon, multiple slams in doubles with Martina Hingis… And because she had this whole other side to her and was so marketable and famous… people focus on that and give her so much hate. And I’m literally her biggest defender.”As Bouchard’s own career progressed, she realised she was experiencing many of the same challenges. Like Kournikova, she dealt with enormous public attention, constant criticism and expectations that extended far beyond her performances on the court.Reflecting on that shared experience, Bouchard said:“I met her once very quickly at Junior Wimbledon years ago. But I would really love to meet her and talk to her about her experiences because I feel like I went through some similar things as well.”
Why Anna Kournikova’s story still inspires the next generation
Anna Kournikova’s influence cannot be measured only through rankings or trophies. She helped change how female athletes were viewed around the world and proved that success on the court and global popularity could exist together, even if it came with immense pressure.Her journey became a source of inspiration for players like Eugenie Bouchard, who saw beyond the headlines and recognised the resilience it took to thrive under constant scrutiny. Decades later, that admiration remains as strong as ever.Millions remember Kournikova for her success, charisma and global reach, but honestly her biggest legacy might be that strange type of confidence she slipped into the lives of young girls and let them dream big anyway. Her story feels like a nudge, that real greatness isn’t always locked to numbers or statistics people wave around. Sometimes it’s more like a quiet measurement, in the kind of lives a person helps ignite even long after they’re out of the spotlight.Anna Kournikova rose into tennis’ biggest stars while she was also carrying the weight of this incredible public attention. Even with constant criticism, she didn’t really lose her love for the sport, the same sport that shaped her life. Years later, Eugenie Bouchard’s heartfelt tribute made it pretty clear that Kournikova’s true highlight wasn’t only what she did on the court, but also the generation of athletes she encouraged to step forward and follow her path, or at least aim for it.