Sultry tennis star Anna Kournikova’s first exercise video – already a huge success in Europe – is set to hit stores Stateside on September 25, thanks to a deal the 20-year-old Russian tennis player has just signed with Lions Gate Home Entertainment. And executives from the Canadian company, who are already in talks with the athlete about future projects, are expecting Anna Kournikova’s Basic Elements: My Complete Fitness Guide to be a big earner.
“There’s definitely an attraction when you hear that name,” says the executive VP of Lions Gate’s North American home entertainment sales and operations, Ron Schwartz. “This acquisition is a major coup because Anna Kournikova is one of the most recognised athletes in the world.”
The Kournikova video – which features exercises to target the abs and arms as well as nutritional information – was released on June 4 in the UK to coincide with the upcoming Wimbledon tournament. Anna later pulled out of the All England Lawn event citing a stress fracture in her left foot. Her only Grand Slam appearance this year was the Australian Open where she reached the quarter finals.
Anna made headlines earlier this week after a London tabloid reported, to the dismay of her male fans worldwide, that she’d secretly tied the knot with hockey boyfriend Sergei Fedorov of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. However, the beauty’s father and her agent both denied that the nuptials had taken place.
“To be honest with you I am sick and tired with the calls about her marriage,” says Sergei Kournikova. “Last year it was Pavel Bure, now it’s Federov.”
“Anna is in Florida at the moment and has begun training,” he says. “Only yesterday I spoke with her on the phone and I think she would be very surprised to hear about this latest rumour.”
Her agent also shot down any wedding talk, saying: “The rumours are untrue and we will not justify them with any comment.”
Reports last year claimed the Russian player had wed hockey star Pavel Bure of the Florida Panthers. Both later denied the report, however.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
