Will Playboy appearance ruin Ashley Harkleroad’s tennis career?

The undisputed sex goddess of the tennis has to be Anna Kournikova, well come August that will no longer be the case. Ashley Harkleroad has announced that she is to appear in the August edition of Playboy, this is the first time that a professional tennis player has ever appeared in the pages of Playboy. Harkleroad came to the decision to appear in the lads mag while lying in hospital, she was there having a cyst removed on her ovaries.

Whatever happens after the August edition it will only bring more attention to women’s tennis, a job that Anna Kournikova has been doing great for years. In a recent interview Ashley Harkleroad said “I was just lying there in hospital for three weeks, and an offer came to me. I thought about it and thought, well, I’m not really doing anything right now and it was something that I did. I’m proud of my body.” Ok so this might improve her popularity with the men, but I am not sure what it will do for her tennis, as she is ranked at No.61.

It is a brave decision for Harkleroad to decide to appear in Playboy, she must worry if it will cause a backlash from other players in the sport. However one of the biggest players Serena Williams did offer her support by saying that she is happy for what she is doing, and that it takes great courage.