Ashley Harkleroad was born May 2nd, 1985, in Roseville, Georgia, to tennis fan parents. The road to tennis stardom began for Ashley Harkleroad at the age of four when her father began to take her out to the court. Now, just thirteen years later, she has become the youngest hope for American tennis fans. Her big introduction to the professional tour and the public came in 2001 when she graduated from the junior circuit. A new rule prevented her from making the move earlier like Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova and Jennifer Capriati before her. Yet Harkleroad received a great education on the junior tour, dominating the opposition and accumulating a slew of titles, including Doubles Champion and Singles Winner in 2001. The buzz she generated when she graduated to the big tour had not been heard or seen since Venus Williams.

Nothing could be more enticing to the tennis world than a young sensation full of potential on the court and off. Ashley Harkleroad has the entire package but will she get noticed for her backhand or her backside. Anna Kournikova set a controversial precedent for women in sports by marketing her physical appearance over her actual tennis skill. She has yet to net a victory on the professional circuit and with each additional first round exit, the game is tarnished and the hearts of photographers hoping to exercise voyeuristic perversions broken. Now we present to you Ashley Harkleroad. Can the teenage talent combine her ferocity on the court with her beauty to produce a memorable career? We sure hope so. The female tennis scene has become dry of late. We love the power and dominance of Serena and Venus Williams, but a young upstart could shake up the program and create a buzz. All of the other young talent that held so much promise in the past has failed to live up to the hype. For that reason alone, we want Ashley to step up and serve an ace. With a bright future ahead of her, Harkleroad has the personality of a typical teenager poised to embark on a lucrative career playing her favorite game for a living. Perky, grateful and adjusted, she has been groomed to embrace the pressure and spotlight.

Without the benefit of a victory, she has hit the endorsement jackpot, although not quite on the scale of a Kournikova or a Martina Hingis. Yet we doubt she has to worry about where her next protein shake is coming from. With a personal coach, agent and bevy of "people" at her disposal, the young Harkleroad is doing just fine. In time, her considerable talent should translate into success on the court. Before we pull a Roman Polanski, we have to preface our admiration for Ashley with the disclaimer that she is not yet of age. You know what we mean. Born in 1985, Harkleroad has some time to blossom into a woman. And the indication is that she will make quite an attractive one.

Ever since her appearance at the 2001 US Open in a scandalous outfit that paralyzed the ball boys, she has been anointed the "American Anna." Maybe so, but deep down we think that she has the potential to shed the "Kourna-Copy" moniker and erase the criticism with an overhead smash of physical charm. Give her some time and the rating could change. Without a victory and a modest professional record to her credit, Harkleroad has to earn an upgrade. Her junior record is astounding but at the end of the day, does the average tennis fan care? To her dismay, negative.

We want a Wimbledon title or a US Open Championship in the near future. If not, we would be content if she could advance to the second round. As famous as she is now for her appearance and Kournikova comparison, her recognition will skyrocket with a big tournament result. The tennis tour has some beautiful women but Harkleroad is above and beyond most. Martina Hingis? Old news. Mary Pierce? Not feminine enough. Jelena Dokic? Have you ever seen her crack a smile? Anna Kournikova may be the undisputed cover girl on tour, but Ashley is making a big push to unseat her.

While other stars get by with a toned figure and a face that is less than attractive, Harkleroad has it all. Richard Krajicek once said that the female tour was full of "pigs" but with Ashley on board, we think he may change his mind. Based on her US Open attire, we think Ashley has a good idea of what makes her look good. Something short and tight. And if she can make it into the second week of a Grand Slam tournament, everyone will take notice -- not just the tennis paparazzi and ball boys.

Her style is bound to improve as more and more magazines hound her publicist for a pictorial. Look at how Kournikova transformed with her media exposure. If Harkleroad can make a splash at Roland Garros in Paris, perhaps a runway appearance could be in her future.

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