Wimbledon 2011: 25 Tennis Hotties at the Championships

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As has been mentioned time and again over the course of the year, there is no one in the women's game who can take the No.1 spot by the scruff of the neck and really dominate the sport.

Whether the same can be said for how they look is another matter.

There is one main reason why men like to watch women's tennis. A reason that does not even need spelling out.

You may have your favorites from over the past week but here are 25 that caught the eye over the first seven days.

Enjoy!

25. Anne Keothavong

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Anne Koethavong is the World No. 111 but she has the potential to be so much better.

The British player was ranked No. 48 in 2009 but Keothavong has failed to deliver on the grand slam stage.

At Wimbledon she had only ever been to the second round twice before she did so this year. Sadly for the 28-year-old she met Petra Kvitova and won just three games.

24. Vera Zvonareva

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Last years finalist—Vera Zvonareva—would have been very disappointed to be knocked out in the third round of Wimbledon this year.

The World No. 3 was a semifinalist at the Australian Open earlier this year and was runner-up at the 2010 US Open.

Zvonareva should and will win a grand slam one day.

23. Sabine Lisicki

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Sabine Lisicki has captured the hearts of most tennis fans this week. She may be rather pretty but her performances at SW19 over past seven days have been phenomenal.

The World No. 62 played magnificently against Li Na in the second round and is now in the fourth round where she will face Petra Cetkovska.

After defeating Li Na, many are now tipping the 21-year-old to reach the final.

22. Stephanie Dubois

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Stephanie Dubois is a 24-year-old Canadian and is currently the World No. 122.

In her seven year career, Dubois has only competed in the main draw at Wimbledon three times and failed to make the second round on every occasion.

However, 2011 was different. Dubois defeated Irina Falconi, 6-2, 6-2, to reach the second round where she took 11th seed, Andrea Petkovic, to three sets before bowing out.

21. Anna Chakvetadze

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This 25-year-old has been on the tour for nine years but has never done particularly well at Wimbledon. Chakvetadze has reached a semifinal at the US Open and quarterfinals at the Australian Open and French Open but on the grass it all falls to pieces.

To be honest, since 2007 it has fallen to pieces for Chakvetadze. The Russian was the fifth best player in the world back then but she is now the World No. 52 and was crushed by Maria Sharapova in the opening round of the Championships this year.

20. Alize Cornet

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Alize Cornet has been ranked as high as the World No. 11 but her drop in the rankings to No. 69 was demonstrated in her first round loss at Wimbledon this year.

A player who you will see more of in the future and who will always look good.

19. Klara Zakopalova

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Klara Zakopalova is the World No. 35 and her best appearance at Wimbledon was last year when she reached the fourth round.

Disappointingly for the Czech beauty there was to be no repeat of that this year as she was beaten, 6-2, 6-3 by Maria Sharapova in the third round.

Zakopalova had done well to reach the third round considering she lost to Kirsten Flipkens in the first round at S-Hertogenbosch.

18. Alison Riske

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The World No. 115 lost in the first round of Wimbledon 2011 to Vera Zvonareva but at 20 years of age, she has a long career ahead of her.

Riske had only ever played one Wimbledon before this year and she—along with her fans—will be hoping that there will be more to come.

17. Serena Williams

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Serena Williams is one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Serena holds 13 grand slam singles titles and is the defending champion at the All England Club.

This year has been rather different, however. Due to a couple of serious injuries, Serena returned to the court after 12 months out and showed a different side to her usual self by crying after her first round win against Aravane Rezai.

Since the tears, Serena has beat Simona Halep in three sets before cruising to victory against Maria Kirilenko.

Serena plays Marion Bartoli in the fourth round. Whether she wins or not, it is great to see her back and the glamour and style is still there.

16. Alona Bondarenko

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Alona Bondarenko was the World No. 19 in April 2009 but poor form and injuries have meant that the Ukranian is now ranked at  No. 105.

Bondarenko was knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon this year, beaten by Jarmila Gajdosova in straight sets.

15. Petra Cetkovska

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No one had really heard of Petra Cetkovska before Wimbledon 2011 but her run to the fourth round has got everyone talking.

Having never won a match at Wimbledon before, Cetkovska must have been heading into the Championships with very little expectation. However, what has followed has been quite mesmerizing.

The World No. 80 has beaten two top 20 players in the form of Agnieszka Radwanska and Ana Ivanovic to set up a fourth round encounter against Sabine Lisicki. That will be a good match.

14. Elena Vesnina

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Elena Vesnina is arguably a better doubles player than she is singles but she is currently the World No. 36.

Sadly, Vesnina was knocked out of Wimbledon in the second round by Vera Zvonareva. Her best showing at the All England Club was in 2009 where she reached the fourth round.

13. Venus Williams

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What more is there to say about Venus Williams that we do not already know.

The 23rd seed has seven grand slam singles titles to her name but will be desperate to add to that tally as she has not won a slam for three years.

Venus returned to action just a few weeks before Wimbledon and has battled her way to the fourth round. Despite a routine 6-3, 6-1 win over Akgul Amanmuradova, Venus was heavily tested by Kimiko Date-Krumm in the second round before she crushed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

12. Dominika Cibulkova

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Dominka Cibulkova is a passionate player who reached a career high ranking of No. 12 in 2009.

A former French Open semifinalist, Cibulkova is currently the World No. 24 and has done well so far at  Wimbledon this year. Her reward for defeating Julia Goerges in the third round is a match against fellow beauty, Caroline Wozniacki.

11. Jarmila Gajdosova

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Jarmila Gajdosova has had heads turning at Wimbledon this year but that is not only for her good looks.

The Slovakian born player defeated Alona Bondarenko and Andrea Hlavackova before being soundly beaten by Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

10. Daniela Hantuchova

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This 28-year-old has still got it.

Daniela Hantuchova has always been attractive and after a brief spell lurking away from the top 20, the Slovakian is playing some very good tennis.

Hantuchova may have lost in the third round at Wimbledon to Victoria Azarenka but she was a finalist and semifinalist at Birmingham and Eastbourne.

9. Julia Goerges

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Julia Goerges entered the top 20 at the start of this summer and looks like a player who could possibly break the top 10 by the end of the year.

In Goerges, Germany have a decent player on their hands and, most importantly, she is attractive.

However, Wimbledon was a little disappointing for the 22-year-old as she lost in the third round to Dominika Cibulkova.

8. Agnieszka Radwanska

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The World No. 11 is a very consistent player who is rather good looking.

However, Wimbledon was a tournament where she would not continue her good form in grand slams this year as she was beaten by Petra Cetkovska in the second round.

A solid player who should be able to display her good looks in the top 20 for many years to come.

7. Tsvetana Pironkova

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Tsvetana Pironkova was a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year and she seems to be very comfortable on grass.

The Bulgarian defeated Vera Zvonareva in the third round and faces Venus Williams in the fourth round where she could cause the American a few problems.

Pironkova is a very underrated player but her beauty is not.

6. Victoria Azarenka

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Victoria Azarenka comes across as a bit of a cool cat but once she is out on the court she is as fired up as anyone.

As is evident, her looks grab most of the attention but it would be hard not to notice Azarenka with her loud grunting.

She was recently filmed hula hooping with Andrea Petkovic and Novak Djokovic during a rain delay at SW19 but her concentration on the court has been second to none.

The Belarusian was in firm control before Magdalana Rybarikova retired with an jury in the first round and stormed past Iveta Benesova, 6-0, 6-3 in the second round. The 21-year-old had to work a little harder against Daniela Hantuchova however as she was taken to three sets.

5. Caroline Wozniacki

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Caroline Wozniacki is somewhat of a princess in the women's draw and of course, World No. 1.

A very good looking young lady who has had a very successful tennis career thus far, the only thing that eludes her is that first grand slam title. Will she win Wimbledon this year?

A lot of people say no but she has been pretty ruthless in her opening three matches. The Dane has only dropped 12 games on her way to the fourth round and looks like she could go deep into the tournament.

This means more of that smile of hers and of course her lighthearted humour.

4. Maria Kirilenko

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Maria Kirilenko was always going to be a certainty on this list.

The 25-year-old equalled her best appearance at Wimbledon this year as she made it to the third round where she was played off the park by a dominant Serena Williams.

Kirilienko's best showing at a grand slam was a quarterfinal appearance at the 2010 Australian Open. The chances of the Russian replicating that at Wimbledon were very slim.

3. Sorana Cirstea

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Sorana Cirstea may be a rather questionable entry at as high as No. 3 but she is here because she still looks hot even while hitting a tennis ball.

The 21-year-old from Romania is the World No. 86 and it is criminal that tennis fans do not get to see much of her on a tennis court.

Cirstea has won one tournament this year, having been victorious in Cagnes-Sur-Mer and she reached the third round of the French Open this year.

However, her singles campaign at Wimbledon was ended in just over an hour this year as she was soundly beaten by Pauline Parmentier, 6-1, 6-3.

2. Maria Sharapova

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When Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon title in 2004 she became a superstar. Understandably this was not just for the way she played tennis.

Sharapova possesses the best pair of legs in the game, with the exception of Ana Ivanovic, and as everyone would have noticed, the best pair of lungs. Her grunting has become as famous as her good looks.

A tall, leggy blonde is what most guys dream of, but this Russian also has success on her side.

With three grand slam titles under her belt, Sharapova is now the favourite to win Wimbledon this year and has done a very good job thus far.

In the first round she cruised past Anna Chakvetadze, 6-2, 6-1 before dashing British hopes by beating Laura Robson in the second round. The 24-year-old had little trouble in the third round as Klara Zakopalova was no match for her.

Sharapova would certainly be a popular champion this year.

1. Ana Ivanovic

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Not only the hottest tennis player in the draw but also on the planet, Ana Ivanovic has to be the prettiest female to have ever played tennis.

Ivanovic captured the hearts of the sport after winning the French Open in 2008 but while she has always been good to look at her tennis has not.

Since that win she has been inconsistent, had injuries here and there and dropped out of the top 60. However, the 23-year-old did recover and ended 2010 as the World No. 17 after winning Linz and Bali.

Ivanovic entered Wimbledon 2011 following a semifinal appearance in Birmingham and started off impressively with a 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Melanie Oudin. A 6-3, 6-0 win over Eleni Danillidou quickly followed but a very disappointing performance in the third round saw Ivanovic lose 6-2, 7-6 to Petra Cetkovska.

It is a shame that her tennis is not as consistent as her looks.