3 months ago
20
THIS former US Open winner looks totally unrecognisable in a stunning photoshoot during her retirement.
The star reigned supreme in New York in 2004 with her maiden Grand Slam title in an iconic baseball cap.
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
(@svetlanak27)She then followed up her US Open win five years later with the French Open in 2009 and reached another final at both Majors.
Meanwhile, her best results at the Australian Open and Wimbledon were a host of quarter-finals.
In total, the Russian ace racked up 18 trophies in a 21-year professional tennis career.
She earned just shy of £20million and reached world No2 before hanging up her racquet in 2021.
But in a photoshoot with Russian photographer and Moscow University lecturer Dmitry Iskhakov, the star rocked a very bold see-through leotard as she sprawled out on a tennis court holding a vintage racquet with balls dotted around her.
The tennis player completed the look with a pair of trendy sunglasses as she displayed her tattoos for the camera.
In another image, she wore a classic white tennis polo and skirt combination as she took a seat in front of the net and posed for the camera.
Other Instagram posts show her decked out in bikinis on holiday, dressed up for special events, attending the French Open and selfies.
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And there are even a fair few snaps of her dog, too.
But who is the mystery tennis star?
Tennis stars following in parents' footsteps
TALK about pressure…
These rising stars are all making their way in tennis.
But they have got something in common – they’ve got a famous parent who also made their name in the sport.
So who are the players hoping to follow in the footsteps of their tennis mums and dads?
- My dad is one of the greatest tennis players ever… but he’s not my idol
- My mum won US Open aged 16 then Wimbledon… but you won’t know it from my surname
- My Czech dad won Australian Open and my sisters are elite golfers… but I’m playing for different country
- My millionaire dad played with Federer… but I’ve reached three Grand Slam finals
- My dad earned £1m and got to French Open final… but I’ve already surpassed his career
- My record-breaking dad is in tennis Hall of Fame and won Wimbledon… but I’m aiming to emulate his achievements
It is none other than Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The Russian, born in Leningrad, is clearly enjoying herself in retirement.
And she has even taken up a new sport with her free time.
In August 2024, she took to social media by posting a video of her on the driving range practising her golf swing.
However, Kuznetsova remains involved in tennis, sharing plenty of training drills, on-court challenges and fitness tips for her 158,000 followers.
She is not the only former US Open champion who looks very different these days, though, after photos emerged of two rivals from the 1990s.
Reuters
The Russian swapped the baseball cap for the bandana during her careerNews Group Newspapers Ltd
AFP
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
https://www.instagram.com/svetlanak27/
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