ANA IVANOVIC

Don't let her friendship with Avram Grant put you off, this Serbian smoulderer manages to come across as both sexy and the girl next door.

Likes to be photographed off court and off the shoulder.

BUT CAN SHE PLAY? Victory in the French Open earlier this month answered that one... she's the world No 1 and the top seed. Top that!

French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen modelling a new outfit, a below knee length pleated skirt and coat

SUZANNE LENGLEN (1919-26)

Nicknamed 'La Divine', Lenglen possessed the grace of a ballerina.

She created a sensation at the first post-war Wimbledon in 1919 when wearing a calf-length frock with short sleeves, a silk headband and white stockings rolled to the knee.

BUT COULD SHE PLAY? As well as being the first female tennis celebrity, she won six Wimbledon and six French Open titles. Say no more.

Maria Bueno plays at Wimbledon

MARIA BUENO (1958-77)

The list of nicknames give a flavour of this exotic South American: La Bueno, La Belle Bueno, the Brazilian Bombshell, La Panthere and the Sao Paulo Swallow. Sinuous, sensuous and very feminine.

BUT COULD SHE PLAY? Absolutely, as three Wimbledon titles and four U.S. Open victories between 1959 and 1966 demonstrate.

American tennis player Gussie Moran famous for her frilly pants models a tennis outfit on the roof of Simpsons, a London department store.

GERTRUDE MORAN (1949)

'Gorgeous Gussy' took the 1949 Championships by storm when donning ruffled, lace-trimmed knickers below the hem of her short dress.

Photographers fought with each other over vantage positions, even lying at the back of the court for their shots. No problems with political correctness in those days.

BUT COULD SHE PLAY? Yes, but she refused to play ball for photographers lying on the ground attempting risque shots. A player off court, too, apparently.

Gabriela Sabatini from Argentina

MARTINA HINGIS (1995-07)

The Swiss Miss would have been mortified if excluded from this list.

Positive test for cocaine at last year's Wimbledon ended her career, but she still boasts a legion of male fans.

BUT COULD SHE PLAY? Delightfully. A touch player who was overtaken by the modern power game, she won five Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon, while still a teenager.

Martina celebrates with the trophy at Brighton Beach after winning the Australian Open

ANNA KOURNIKOVA (1997-02)

The ultimate 'babe', voted at various times by magazines the hottest athlete on the planet and the sexiest woman in the world. The Russian became the most clicked and most clicked on sportswoman.

BUT COULD SHE PLAY? Not really. Once reached No 8 in the world but never won a singles title and never did much at Grand Slams except attract attention.

Anna Kournikova became a red carpet favourite

SERENA WILLIAMS (1998-?)

A muscular antidote to the size zero mentality, this American champion and aspiring actor boasts a legion of male fans.

BUT CAN SHE PLAY? Though not as successful as big sister at Wimbledon, Serena has won all four Grand Slams on all surfaces.

Generally accepted as being more powerful and more ruthless than Venus.

Serena has ventured into acting

MARIA SHARAPOVA (2003-?)

The natural inheritor of the glamour crown previously worn by fellow Russian Kournikova. But Sharapova boasts the bigger pout, the greater grunt and the louder father.

BUT CAN SHE PLAY? Better than Kournikova and, indeed, better than most. At 21, she has already been ranked No 1 in the world and has only to win in Paris to complete the set of Grand Slam titles.

Glamorous Maria was ranked No 1 in the world

TATIANA GOLOVIN (2004-?)

From Russia, to Paris and now Florida with love, she has all the attributes to be a Bond girl. Just think of her as a tennis wild card.

BUT CAN SHE PLAY? Who cares?

Rising tennis star Tatiana Golovin