ANNA KOURNIKOVA - ANNA KOURNIKOVA BACKED BY MOBSTER

Tennis beauty ANNA KOURNIKOVA's career got off the ground after she was bankrolled by a Russian mobster, according to British tabloid NEWS OF THE WORLD.

YAKOV GOFMAN was the secret lover of Anna's mum, ALLA, and claimed to have invested $500,000 (GBP300,000) in launching Anna's tennis career, the paper alleges.

Yakov - whose gang were notorious for contract killings and racketeering - was murdered by rivals in 2001.

Yakov's friend and tennis coach IGOR TATEOSOV, 55, tells the News of the World that Anna wouldn't be the star she is today without Yakov's input.

Igor says, "If not for Gofman you would never have heard about someone called Anna Kournikova.

"He paid for everything when she was young. He bought her first tennis racket and funded her tuition, including when she moved to America.

"But more than that he was deeply in love with Alla. He wrecked his marriage to LARISSA to be with Alla and sponsor Alla.

"So when the Kournikovas dumped him after they went to the States he was heartbroken."

Anna, who now lives in Florida, is battling to get fit for the start of WIMBLEDON on 23 June (03).