Tennis Player Ashley Harkleroad Poses For Playboy

American Tennis Player Ashley Harkleroad has posed for the top international men's magazine, Playboy, while she was hospitalized some months ago for cyst on her ovaries.

The photoshoot, according to the 22-year old Ashley Harkleroad, is first sexy pictorial of a tennis player for the magazine, following American swimmer Amanda Beard who bared all for the cameras.

"I was just lying there in hospital for three weeks, and an offer came to me. I thought about it and it was something that I did. I'm proud of my body" says the blonde tennis player.

"I stay in shape and try to stay fit. I'm just trying to represent a female athlete and her body. That can be sexy too. It's no big deal."

Ashley Harkleroad represented the US in the French Open but was knocked out by Serena Williams on Sunday.

It was Serena Williams who backed Ashley Harkleroad's decision to pose for Playboy. "I do appreciate that magazine. I think Hugh Hefner is a great businessman, and he has a niche that he just did really amazing in," says Serena.

"I'm happy for her if that's what she wanted to do. It takes a lot of courage. And whether I'm courageous enough, I don't know, but it's great for someone to be so courageous and tough."

The pose of the tennis player Ashley Harkleroad will appear in the August edition of Playboy.