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THE World Cup final didn't go the right way for one of Croatia's biggest supporters - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

But following her country's 4-2 defeat to France in Russia, the tennis team earned revenge by winning the Davis Cup in Lille in front of their adoring leader.

 Renowned for supporting her country at major sporting events, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was right behind Croatia at the Davis Cup final
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Renowned for supporting her country at major sporting events, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was right behind Croatia at the Davis Cup finalCredit: Getty - Contributor

How old is Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic?

Grabar-Kitarovic was born on April 29, 1968, in Rijeka in the Croatian part of Yugoslavia.

The Croatian president, 50, signed up to a student exchange programme while at school, spending a year at Los Alamos High School in New Mexico.

She later studied in Zagreb, Vienna, Washington DC and Havard, before completing her doctoral studies in her home country in 2015.

Grabar-Kitarovic is fluent in Croatian, English, Spanish and Portuguese, while she has some understanding of German, French and Italian.

Noticed for her curvaceous figure, some fans have mistaken her for model Coco Austin and US porn star Diamond Foxxx.

 Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has been supporting her country in Russia throughout the knockout stages
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Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has been supporting her country in Russia throughout the knockout stagesCredit: AFP or licensors

When was she elected?

Grabar-Kitarovic became the fourth President of Croatia in February 2015, the first woman to do so.

She has held multiple positions since joining the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in 1993, starting out as an adviser to the Foreign ministry.

Following her studies in Washington DC, Grabar-Kitarovic returned to the Balkan country, joining their parliament.

Prior to becoming president, she worked as a Croatian Ambassador to the United States and as Assistant Secretary General of Nato before being elected by beating the the former head of state Ivo Josipovic.

 The Croatian president and her husband Jakov met Queen Elizabeth II in 2016
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The Croatian president and her husband Jakov met Queen Elizabeth II in 2016Credit: Getty - Pool


 

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Who is her husband?

Kolinda Grabar married Jakov Kitarovic in 1996, with whom she had two children.

Her daughter, 17-year-old Katarina, is a junior national champion figure skater, while the couple's son Luka was born in 2003.

Mr Kitarovic was a part of scandal while his wife was serving in Washington DC in 2010, having been spotted using an embassy car for private purposes.

Despite Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic claiming she works 24 hours a day, she paid the expenses for Jakov's unauthorised use of the vehicle.

France celebrate winning the World Cup and give Didier Deschamps the bumps after beating Croatia in the final
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