Ashley Harkleroad's Playboy Spread: US Tennis Star To Bare All In August Edition (PICTURES)

U.S. tennis star Ashley Harkleroad was crushed by Serena Williams in the first round of this year's French Open, but she upstaged that loss with a provocative announcement: she will bare it all in the August edition of Playboy. Harkleroad is apparently the first tennis player to ever appear in Playboy:

The 23-year-old Harkleroad found herself kicking her heels earlier this year when she was recovering from surgery to remove a cyst from her ovaries.

While others would choose to convalesce on a relaxing vacation or just lounge in front of the television, Harkleroad chose to accept the offer of posing nude for the world's most famous glamour magazine.

"I was just laying there for three weeks, and, you know, an offer came to me," the woman from smalltown Georgia told goggle-eyed reporters.

"I thought, well, I'm not really doing anything right now so I thought about it and it was something that I did. I'm proud of my body. I was representing a female athlete's body."

Scroll down for photos of Harkelroad from this year's French Open.

Comments

[mergina]

What a fab attitude. As someone who has modeled nude countless times for fellow artists and photographers, I could not agree with her more. It is marvelous to look back at the images of oneself from 20 years ago. Digital imagery has many more people SEEING what they look like nude, now that they don't have to take the roll of film to Walgreen's teehee. Viva nudity. Enjoy it.

[LittleSanityLeft]

You can't play tennis forever and so you'd better get that money how you can when you can. I'm no hater so I say good for her.

[raker]

Ashley who? She's a tennis "star" like I'm a tennis star.

[mono]

These days 14 years old girls are playing competitive tennis. She knows she is not going to make it. So, why not choose a lucrative and prolific profession.

[AxelDC]

Just what we need: another model with a tennis racket.

Anna Kournikova was a terrible player but got more attention than Wimbledon champions.

At least Maria Sharapova has won Wimbledon and the US and Australian Opens. Let's talk about players who are better with their rackets than without.

[MikeDu]

Ho hum. Is Playboy still alive? It was 'the' magazine 30+ years ago, There were photos of none other than William F. Buckley carrying a copy across town. Taking it home to 'read the articles' no doubt. Now its about as geriatric as Readers Digest.

[Josiwe]

I disagree.

I too have visited the foul and tainted depths of depravity known as Internet Porn. And while Playboy might well be describer as "tame" in comparison, there is something refreshing about the simplicity of pretty naked girls lounging around in outlandish underwear. They're nice to look at, and somehow cleansing to a soul that has seen the dank underbelly of /b/.

[NoSillyName]

Are they naked if they're wearing underwear?

[newshawk14]

Years ago, when Playboy had some pretensions of intellectualism. They did an interview
with Norman Thomas, the leader of the American Socialist Party, who was often referred
to as the conscience of the nation. They tried to entrap him in questions about situation
ethics, and he brilliantly and courteously put them down. Unfortunately Jimmy Carter did
not do anyway near as well in his interview.

[NightRider]

And i came here looking for Serena.....who is this?

[Rule Of Law]

We're all born naked.
Yet we still have magazines like Playboy.
Tells us everything about us that we need to know.
And HuffPo, too.

[LiberalBuzz]

Never heard of this "star". I am sure it's good money for posing for Playboy though. And what the hell a girl can always use some extra cash.

[AxelDC]

I'm an avid tennis fan and I've never heard of her. If she is making more noise without a racket than with one, she can't be a great player.

[mikeant50]

Why is this nation so stuck-up when it comes to nudity? I have spent a lot of time in foreign countries and the only countries I've seen more atuck-up are Middle Eastern Countries. It's her body and she can do with it what she wants.

[wiseapple]

It just about appreciation of form and beauty. Nice serve!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Yawn.

[DrFelch]

I admit, I am a women's tennis fan, but I don't think I have never watched a match played by this young woman. She is certainly no better than a second tier player, maybe third. I have no prob with her posing for playboy, although I will not be purchasing the magazine. Even if you are into soft core porn, why pay for what you can get for free nowadays? Her motivation is probably to get her matches shown of TV, generate some buzz, maybe get some endorsements from cosmetic companies and athletic wear manufacturers. Strictly business and all that. Free market for hot female bodies. New age feminism and the like. Many women consider it empowering to work in porn, or as strippers, prostitutes and such. Go figure. Everyone is entitled to their own sense of propriety. Good for her for finding a way to increase her visibility and name recognition. In women's tennis, being very attractive is almost as important as winning matches, although obviously not crucial. (lindsay davenport,Justine Henin, I don't think of Jankovich as being attractive, but all are GREAT players) Consider the "career" of Anna Kournikova. She never won a major tournament, was not a top seeded player, yet she was on magazine covers everywhere and got many big money endorsements. Harkleroad probably sees a similar path to financial gain, and she is entitled to pursue it.

[capitalismisntamoral]

I think Jelena Jankovich is hella-attractive. Great athlete, long legs, great competitor,
and her smile!
She's always playing hard and looks like she's having the best time. Love to
watch her play!

A few years back when Ashley Harkleroad was first coming up, she was touted as
the next Anna Kournikova, I mean, Pornikova. Hopefully we'll be able to see that
as someone who makes her living in the hot sun, she has freckles. But considering
that it's Playboy, I'm sure the makeup will be plastered on.

A great loss to us tennis fans that Henin no longer has the will to compete.

oh, and the comment referring to 'vulgar' photos. get real. These women know they'll
be photographed by tens of professional photogs in every match. It's up to them to
dress appropriately - which she is.

[DrFelch]

Well, it's not like I think Janky is ugly, mind you. I just don't think she is very pretty at all.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about watching her play, though

What's the serbian version of "Playboy"?

[SteveStephens]

If that pictorial is anything like the vollyballer Gabriella Reece photos a few years ago, it will be sexy, edgy and cool. Besides, I live in Nebraksa, home of the ugliest, least interesing women in the country. I'll take a girl who want to take her clothes off, even if it is just in a picture.

[jadez]

if americans werent so puritanical and guilt drivin when it comes to the body etc., this kind of stuff would have no effect.

we are so backward .

[JohnIII]

By the time Playboy is done retouching the images she'll be unrecognizable.