Sports stars have always been sex symbols. This has been the case going back as far the Roman Empire. (Actually, the worship of sports stars probably is as old as human history itself) However, most sports sex symbols have almost unilaterally been men. While women athletes have long since been idolized and respected, very few female sports stars have claimed the mantel of being popular due to their looks. Much of this has changed with the arrival of Anna Kournikova on the professional tennis scene. Yes, she has many fans who love her for her performances on the tennis court. Then, there is the multitude of males who never watched tennis matches in their life; but, they become attentive spectators when an Anna Kournikova match is on television. They also show their fervor by searching for online Anna Kournikova pictures with great abandon as well!
Yes, Anna Kournikova's popularity and superstar status is deeply based on her looks and sex appeal far more than her accomplishments on the tennis court. Let the truth be told, Anna Kournikova is a solid yet not spectacular tennis star. Her overall ratings in singles tennis peaked at #8 and her main success has been primarily in doubles matches. Again, this is a decent career but no where near spectacular as other female greats. However, she has something more important than tennis prowess. She has a great look and this has translated into a huge fan base that has made her one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world.