A stunning tennis ace once wowed fans when she went topless in a sizzling beach photoshoot alongside two other gorgeous stars from the sport
A stunning tennis ace went topless for a pulse-raising photoshoot alongside two other court stars.
Tatiana Golovin was an acclaimed performer on the court in the noughties, with the former French world No.12 winning the French Open mixed doubles in 2004 with Richard Gasquet and reaching a career-best quarter-final at the US Open in 2006.
But Golovin, who celebrated her 37th birthday on Sunday (January 25), once left fans stunned off the court when she went topless for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2009. The Russian-born ace was joined by two gorgeous fellow tennis pros in the photo op called ‘Volley of the Dolls’.
Ex world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova, now 42, from Slovakia, who completed the career Grand Slam in mixed doubles including at Wimbledon with Leos Friedl in 2001, also wowed in the photos.
She starred alongside former world No.10 Maria Kirilenko, now 39, from Russia, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2012 and won a bronze medal in women’s doubles at the London Olympics that same year.
The three of them posed in various bikinis before piling up to each other for a sandy group snap. And in a topless pic, Golovin held her bikini top in one hand and covered her modesty with only her arms.
Golovin is one of the many female tennis stars to have posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, including Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.
During her career, Golovin enjoyed her best Grand Slam doubles run at Wimbledon in 2004 when she reached the third round. She also made it to the fourth round in the singles.
But her impact at the All England Club remains through her daring decision to wear red underwear despite the strict all-white dress code.
Plenty of tennis stars had tried to flout the very strict rules on clothing over the years, but few had ever managed to get away with it.
British favourite Naomi Broady was forced to play without a bra in 2014, while two junior players had to change their underwear after they were judged to have violated the regulations in 2017.
However, Golovin defied the rules with her red ensemble when she entered the court wearing bright red-coloured undergarments and a dress with red stitching at the waist.
Despite it being expected that her attire would be rejected, according to Reuters, Golovin was given the go-ahead after intense discussions about hemlines and where they stopped and started.
Explaining the decision, a Wimbledon spokesman said at the time: “They were cleared with the referee in advance by the player.
“On the basis that they are underwear, they do not have to conform to the predominantly white rule. If they are above the hemline they are deemed to be underwear and not shorts.”