Violetta Degtiareva Dead: 'Next Anna Kournikova' Tennis Beauty Dies At Practice, Only 23: Twitter Fans Share #RIP Condolences After Heart Failure

Reports confirm that Violetta Degtiareva - an up-and-coming tennis star from Rostov, Russia - passed away after suddenly collapsing on the court during practice last week. Details surrounding the 23-year-old athlete's death still remain hazy, but Russian news outlets confirm she died as a result of heart failure.

Some fans referred to the stunning blonde as the next Anna Kournikova. According to the New York Post, Degtiareva was deemed one of the highest-earning stars on the International Tennis Federation pro-circuit before her tragic death on January 12. She placed her highest ranking at 947, but at the time of her untimely passing she was currently ranked 1,084 in the world. Although she didn't win any major titles, she did recently reach the quarter-finals of the ITF-Turnier pro-circuit tournament in Turkey.

She was transported to a local hospital, but nothing could be done to save her.

The Central European News does not specify where Degtiareva was training when she collapsed. The sad news initially broke when fellow tennis player Vdovenco Anastasia offered her condolences on Facebook:

"I can hardly believe it... Rest in peace."

Now Twitter fans continue sharing their #RIP tributes:

@Angedelile: "Violetta #Degtiareva - So too young and talented to go... #RIPViolettaDegtiareva Russian."

@isettakev: "RIP Violetta Degtiareva 23 One of the many players who provide a structure to the tennis World but remain anonymous."

Stay tuned as more details surrounding this sorrowful situation become available.