Ashley Harkleroad

Tennis pro Ashley Harkleroad is ranked a mediocre 61st in the world, having made five straight first-round exits from her sport's Grand Slam events.

But she's made millions of men want to make a grand slam of sorts, if you know what we're taking about. We mean she's naked in the new Playboy!

For this reason, the now-infamous A-Hark can hold her head up high. Just ask one of the (many) fellow tennis stars who recently beat her ...

Knowing that she just delivered a savage ass-whomping (6-2, 6-1) at the French Open, but that the world will soon be ogling Ashley Harkleroad nude and not her, Venus Williams offers her hot counterpart some words of encouragement.

You've all about them.

Now, here's your chance to actually check out Ashley Harkleroad nude in Playboy.

The beautiful athlete is the first-ever tennis player to grace the magazine with her bare body. Follow this article's jump now to drool over the woman known as A-Hark...

On the cover of the latest Playboy, Ashley Harkleroad, nude, asks: Tennis, anyone?

And while many men who pick up the issue may never have played the sport in their lives, there's a good chance each and every one of them will be reaching for balls after seeing photos of Harkleroad naked.

We'll post those when they're released, of course, but enjoy the cover shot of the first-ever tennis player in Playboy now:

Ashley Harkleroad was inspired by Amanda Beard nude photos in Playboy.

Click on the following images, meanwhile, to see Ashley Harkleroad in action on the court. She gives a whole new meaning to the term "service break."

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played one of the greatest matches in tennis history yesterday during the Wimbledon finals.

Somehow, though, we have a feeling the August issue of Playboy will garner more attention for tennis than a dozen five-set matches between the aforementioned stars. How come?

Because Ashley Harkleroad nude will appear within the pages of that issue.

"I was just laying there for three weeks, and, you know, an offer came to me," Harkleroad told reporters that recently asked about her decision to bare it all. "I thought, well, I'm not really doing anything right now..."

That would include practicing, considering her first round loss at Wimbledon this year.

Emulating the reaction of men around the nation that heard she'd be posing nude, Ashley Harkleroad pumps her first.

As for posing naked, Harkleroad said it was "hard work, but, you know, it was just a completely different experience. It was fun."

The issue - which also includes Susie Feldman nude - hits newsstands on July 18.

Ashley Harkleroad may have lost her first round match at Wimbledon this year, but don't worry, fellas: she'll still be losing her clothes in Playboy later this year.

Harkleroad fell to a formidable foe, too. Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Amelie Mauresmo defeated our favorite tennis player 6-4, 6-3. There's no shame in that score.

Keep your head up, Ashley! And take your clothes off!

Ashley Harkleroad won't be taking home her first Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon this year.

Move over, Anna Kournikova!

You had your (hot) time in the spotlight as the best looking player ever on the professional women's tennis tour. Ashley Harkleroad is now looking to take that title from you, going to extreme, naked lengths in order to do so.

Likely inspired by the Amanda Beard nude pictorial in Playboy, Harkleroad told reporters yesterday that she'll appear in the August edition of that magazine.

Ashley Harkleroad nude in Playboy? This will become a reality later this summer.

Harkleroad, 23, will be the first tennis player to appear in Playboy. Unlike WWE Divas, this demographic simply hasn't discovered the pay day that awaits them by getting naked for the publication. But that could soon change.

"I'm proud of my body. I was representing a female athlete's body," Harkleroad said.

We hope you're listening, Maria Sharapova.

** UPDATE: We've uncovered a few of these Ashley Harkleroad Playboy pics. Visit this star's image gallery now to check them out.