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Tennis Star Takes It Off for Playboy

Harkleroad says it's 'kind of cool'

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 26, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Ashley Harkleroad lost to fellow American Serena Williams at the French Open yesterday, but Harkleroad grabbed the headlines, revealing that she recently posed for Playboy, the AP reports. Harkleroad, 23, posed while recovering from having an ovary removed. “I was just laying there… and an offer came,” she said. “I thought, ‘Well, I’m not really doing anything right now.’”

Harkleroad will be her sport's first Playmate. “I thought about it, and it was something that I did,” she said. “I'm proud of my body. I was representing a female athlete's body.” Asked if she was wearing clothes during the shoot, she laughed. “I was…sometimes. You know, it’s Playboy.”

United States player Ashley Harkleroad returns the ball to compatriot Serena Williams during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Sunday May 25, 2008.
United States player Ashley Harkleroad returns the ball to compatriot Serena Williams during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Sunday May 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Ashley Harkleroad returns the ball against Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
Ashley Harkleroad returns the ball against Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
Ashley Harkleroad of the United States celebrates after winning her match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the quarterfinals of the Fed Cup tennis tournament, Feb. 4, 2008.
Ashley Harkleroad of the United States celebrates after winning her match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the quarterfinals of the Fed Cup tennis tournament, Feb. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Ashley Harkleroad of the United States pumps her fist after winning a point during her match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the quarterfinals of the Fed Cup tennis tournament, Feb. 4, 2008.
Ashley Harkleroad of the United States pumps her fist after winning a point during her match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the quarterfinals of the Fed Cup tennis tournament, Feb. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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tennis • Serena Williams • Playboy • soft porn • Ashley Harkleroad

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