Ashley Harkleroad Hasn't Won a Grand Slam, Has Won Thousands of Male Fans

If you knew who Ashley Harkleroad was a couple of months ago, you're probably a hard-core tennis fan. She's ranked No. 72 in the world and has never advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam event, and that means that she was known only those who follow the sport passionately.

But that all changed in May, when the news broke that Harkleroad was planning to appear in Playboy. The issue with Harkleroad on the cover has now hit newsstands, and you can bet she now has thousands of male fans who have never seen her play tennis.

For her part, Harkleroad says she hopes those Playboy pictures will change perceptions of female athletes' bodies:

"For me, I have a very natural body," Harkleroad said. "I'm an athlete who is fit and not very big-busted at all.

"I'm proud of that. I wanted to show that female athletes, who are fit and muscular, can have very beautiful bodies just like regular models."

For that, she may get some new female fans, too.

Athletes in Playboy

Ashley Harkleroad, seen here on the cover of the August 2008 Playboy magazine cover, is the first tennis player to pose for the men's magazine. Check out other athletes who have posed for Playboy.

Playboy Magazine

Swimmer Amanda Beard was the July 2007 Playboy cover girl and has also posed in the 2006 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. In 2003, she became the world champion and record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Getty Images for Speedo

LaTasha Marzolla, who has posed for numerous Playboy pictorials, pursues a career in professional full-contact K1 kickboxing under the nickname Venus. She was previously signed to a WWE contract.

A. Nevader, WireImage.com

Kiana Tom, an American model and fitness show instructor, shed her workout outfit when she appeared in a nude pictorial for the May 2002 issue.

Laurence Cottrell, Getty Images

Former professional wrestler and bodybuilder Joanie Laurer, also known as Chyna, has posed nude for Playboy twice. Her pictorial in November 2000 was reportedly part of the ten best-selling issues in the magazine's history.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Chyna isn't the only wrestling star to pose for the magazine. In April 2006, former WWE Women's Champion Candice Michelle posed for the cover along with a nude pictorial.

David Klein, Getty Images

Professional boxer and Tae Kwon Do champion Mia St. John appeared on the cover of Playboy in November 1999 and in an 11-page pictorial. The display earned her the nickname 'Bunny Boxer' by many boxing critics.

Robin Leedy & Associates / AP

Retired WWE wrestler and valet Torrie Wilson has appeared on the cover of several magazines, including FHM and Playboy, which she posed for twice. As a fitness competitor, Wilson won the Miss Galaxy competition in 1998.

Kristian Dowling, Getty Images

Professional volleyball player and sports presenter Gabrielle Reece has appeared on the cover of several magazines, including the January 2001 issue of Playboy with an accompanying nude pictorial.

Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images

WWE Diva and wrestler Maria Kanellis posed for the April 2008 cover of Playboy, which was incorporated into a WWE storyline. The 26-year-old was first asked to pose for Playboy when she was 19 years old, but originally turned down the offer.

Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.com

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)

7-21-2008 @ 6:27AM

Dudley Haas said...

I won a grand slam at Dennys.

7-21-2008 @ 10:26AM

R said...

appreciate that you don't take this too seriously and that you found the humor in it...maybe Ms. Harkleroad needs to visit Denny's..???

7-24-2008 @ 2:01PM

Roger said...

See all the PB pics in full glory here -
http://www.squidoo.com/AshleyHarkleroad

7-21-2008 @ 6:36AM

GEEMACK said...

At first I was disappointed that Ashley would bare all on the cover of Playboy, but now that I've seen the cover, I think it is very tastefully done. Good job, Ash.

7-24-2008 @ 2:04PM

See all the PlayBoy Pics Right Here -
http://www.squidoo.com/AshleyHarkleroad

7-21-2008 @ 6:45AM

LARRY A CHRISPYN said...

THERE ARE LITERALLY OVER ONE MILLION PICTURES OF MAGICAL MARIA WINNING MATCHES AND WINNING HEARTS. WHAT IS YOUR POINT IN PUTTING WELL OVER 100 BAD PICTURES OF HER LOSING A FEW WEEKS AGO.

8-01-2008 @ 7:13AM

norm staples said...

She's A lot better to look at on the cover than Rosie thank
God for real women.

7-21-2008 @ 8:37AM

herman said...

Well said. Playboy should than you for another sale.

7-21-2008 @ 7:30AM

Aaron said...

Amazing, anyone can make the most disparaging remarks regarding A-A's and they're posted immediately! But make one comment regarding any of the fair hair vixens, it's discounted and not printed. I did it to test the power of the press and the freedoms that are in accompaniment. That's AOL!

7-24-2008 @ 1:10PM

Eddie said...

Aaron: Don't worry bro, I'm sure A-Rod will grace an issue of Playgirl someday. Just keep up your subscription, and it;ll pay off eventually.

Oh, and uh, don't take this as a knock against "A-As", just you: Keep up the night school, bro. How many remedial english vocab words did you just break out for our benefit?

7-21-2008 @ 7:44AM

HeLTeR SKeLTeR said...

guys like aaron who come out publicly to bash these fine young ladies for making the CHOICE to show their beautiful bodies in a non exploitative way, are the same ones who rush out in trench coats, sunglasses and fadoras to the midnight adult book store to get their own copy, then tell the rest of us how wicked and sinful she is and we are for doing the same. Leave the girl alone, she's sweet, sexy, and comfortable enough within her own skin to not be ashamed of the marvelous body God gave her. There's nothing wrong with her posing, and nothing wrong with anyone looking at her posing. Pure ignorance and jealousy are the only reasons anyone would have a problem with this. the "god" who tells some of you this is immoral and sinful isn't the "God" I know of who created that same body...leave the girl be...and she IS NOT a whore..

7-21-2008 @ 7:55AM

Scott said...

You must be a big hypocrite. I Bet if you had half her talent and looks, you'd be looking to provide a better life for yourself too, if you had the brains as well... not!

7-21-2008 @ 7:53AM

RAY said...

i think a good looking girl hot to

JayReuebn said...

Aaron...you need to get out more...you spell the particular variety of "hoe" of which you speak...without the "e".

7-21-2008 @ 7:54AM

lorraine elijah brown said...

She can't play anymore. That's why she found something new.

7-21-2008 @ 8:01AM

Cathy said...

Ashley athletes don't have get naked for the entire world to see that they have a fit body. Ashley shame on you for setting such a low example for younger athletes. Keep your clothes on and play tennis..

7-21-2008 @ 8:09AM

screenlegal9 said...

I don't think this thing is a big deal. But if I had a choice for Tennis player to pose nude it would be Ana Ivanovic hands down. Who I think is much more attractive than Maria Sharapova. Serena has a good body but it is a bit too thick for playboy standards.

7-21-2008 @ 8:17AM

Keith said...

For all the hype, etc., she has not moved very many magazines in South Florida. The porn shops have sold 2 out of 60 and Barnes & Noble have sold none since they appeared early last week. A gallon of gas is a better sale.

The pictures are so 1960's Playboy very boring and not daring at all. I can't believe Playboy hypes her as "Tennis' sexiest star nude." What about the really hot ones, Ana, Maria, Anna, etc.? Shame on you for adding to Playboy's hype for a no body. She is really 74th in the WTA not 61st. Had she not had the tennis connection, she would have never made the Playboy cut, as she has no boobs and that is a PLayboy requirement.

7-21-2008 @ 8:29AM

doug said...

A well endowed, fit female body is a thing of beauty. it is completely natural and approaches art in it's form. I wouldn't expect a red neck prude like yourself to understand that, but let it suffice to say that not all males conjure up nasty perverted thoughts of ugliness when viewing the natural beauty of a young woman. .....Doug