Anna Kournikova apparently likes to take things very, very slow in a relationship.
The former tennis star has been dating boyfriend Enrique Iglesias for 12 years now, but in that time has never met his father , singing legend Julio Iglesias.
Enrique made the surprising confession in the April issue of Billboard .
“The last 14 years, 15 years of my life have flown by. And that’s the only way I can truly explain it,” Enrique said. “There’s no reason why — it’s not his fault, and it’s not my fault.”
There may be another reason why he has never brought Anna Kournikova back home. Enrique and his father have not been on the greatest of terms, with Julio saying publicly that he would never want to perform with his son.
The couple has been dating since 2001, when they met on the set of his “Escape” music video. For the last 12 years they have been steadily and quietly moving along, not seeking out the spotlight like other celebrity pairings.
Though Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias seem to have a solid relationship, both have said that marriage isn’t all that important to them.
Julio Iglesias may have something to do with this as well. Enrique has said that his parents’ divorce has scared him off the idea of marriage.
“I’ve never really thought marriage would make a difference. Maybe it’s because I come from divorced parents, but I don’t think you love someone more because of a piece of paper,” Iglesias told Parade in March 2012. “Nowadays, it’s not taboo to have kids and not be married.”
Even if they’re not walking the aisle, Anna and Enrique say their relationship has a strong grounding.
“I believe in commitment,” Anna told Women’s Health in 2011. “I believe in being open and trusting each other and respecting each other completely.”
But Anna said she does dream of starting a family one day.
“I absolutely want to have children, whether I have my own or adopt,” she added. “I love taking care of people.”
Maybe then Anna Kournikova can take the kids to meet their grandfather Julio.
