Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back here regularly for more videos.
In this video we talk to tennis star Shahar Peer, one of the big stories in this year's Wimbledon. We also hear from tennis superstars Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova on what it's like to compete against Peer. Around 1:00 into the video find out why you should think twice before messing around with Shahar.
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Exclusive: Shahar Peer the Tennis Warrior
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Attractive Olympian: Tennis Player Yan Zi
Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.Yan Zi is ranked just 42nd on the WTA tour, but that doesn't mean she can't come away with a medal at this year's Summer Olympics.
She also happens to be an accomplished doubles player, where she's ranked 13th in the world. In fact, she and partner Zheng Jie won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006, and if they're going to regain a world title, a good place to do it would be in front of a passionate home crowd in Beijing.
Yan also has a trait common to many women tennis players: she can be admired for how she looks in a tennis skirt as much as for how she plays in one. Of course, it would be tremendously shallow to judge Yan on her beauty ... which is why we've put the Attractive Olympians poll after the jump. We wouldn't want anything superficial to lessen the noble front page.
Robby Ginepri Could Ride French Open Run to Spot on U.S. Olympic Team
Robby Ginepri is the only American left at the French Open, and even if he loses his fourth round match against Fernando Gonzalez on Monday morning, he'll have turned in one of the best recent American performances on clay.
And he may have done more than that: By winning three matches at Roland Garros, Ginepri has put himself in very good position to make the U.S. Olympic team.
Attractive Olympian: Maria Sharapova
Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.
You may have heard of Maria Sharapova before. Tall blonde woman? Plays tennis? Endorses cameras and cell phones, and causes fleets of tennis balls to follow her down the street and form smiley-faces for her?
Ohhh, that Maria Sharapova.
Yes, the #1 tennis player in the world will be competing in Beijing in pursuit of an Olympic medal. Though it will be her first Olympiad, Sharapova has already proven herself on the international stage several times over, having captured three Grand Slam titles ('04 Wimbledon, '06 U.S. Open, '08 Australian Open) and recently claimed the world's #1 ranking for the fourth time in her career.
But is a fabulously wealthy, statuesque 21-year-old Russian blonde really all that attractive? Sure, Maxim named her the world's sexiest athlete four years running, and she won an Espy for hottest female athlete, and she posed for SI's Swimsuit Issue, but has this ever been put to a popular vote? After the jump, examine more Maria evidence and cast your vote in our Attractive Olympian poll.
You may have heard of Maria Sharapova before. Tall blonde woman? Plays tennis? Endorses cameras and cell phones, and causes fleets of tennis balls to follow her down the street and form smiley-faces for her?
Ohhh, that Maria Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova
Russia's Maria Sharapova leaves the court after her loss to her compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. (Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)
Kevin Lamarque, Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova pauses during her match against compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova looks at her racquet during her match against her compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova wipes her face during her match against her compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
LONDON - JUNE 26: Maria Sharapova of Russia removes her jacket prior to the round two women's singles match against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva reacts during her match against compatriot Maria Sharapova at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva celebrates her win over compatriot Maria Sharapova at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova leaves the court after her loss to her compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova leaves the court after her loss to compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Russia's Maria Sharapova leaves the court after her loss to compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (BRITAIN)
Reuters
Yes, the #1 tennis player in the world will be competing in Beijing in pursuit of an Olympic medal. Though it will be her first Olympiad, Sharapova has already proven herself on the international stage several times over, having captured three Grand Slam titles ('04 Wimbledon, '06 U.S. Open, '08 Australian Open) and recently claimed the world's #1 ranking for the fourth time in her career.
But is a fabulously wealthy, statuesque 21-year-old Russian blonde really all that attractive? Sure, Maxim named her the world's sexiest athlete four years running, and she won an Espy for hottest female athlete, and she posed for SI's Swimsuit Issue, but has this ever been put to a popular vote? After the jump, examine more Maria evidence and cast your vote in our Attractive Olympian poll.
Attractive Olympian: Serbian Tennis Player (and Stamp Model) Ana Ivanovic
Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.Ana Ivanovic is currently the second-ranked women's tennis player in the world. Though she has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament, she has twice reached a final, losing the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open to Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova, respectively. Not bad for someone who's only twenty years old.
Her native Serbia clearly believes she has more to accomplish, as Ivanovic's image was recently placed on a postage stamp in her home country in honor of the approaching Beijing Games.
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts before being defeated by China's Zheng Jie in their their Women's Singles, third round match on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia walks off the court after being defeated by China's Zheng Jie in their Women's Singles, third round match on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
China's Zheng Jie reacts as she defeats number one seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, in their Women's Singles, third round match on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts during her match against Zheng Jie of China, at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts before being defeated by China's Zheng Jie in their their Women's Singles, third round match on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
China's Zheng Jie reacts as she defeats number one seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, in their Women's Singles, third round match on the Number One Court at Wimbledon, Friday, June, 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
LONDON - JUNE 27: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia speaks during a press conference after she lost her round three women's singles match against Jie Zheng of China on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 27, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LONDON - JUNE 27: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia speaks during a press conference after she lost her round three women's singles match against Jie Zheng of China on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 27, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LONDON - JUNE 27: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia speaks during a press conference after she lost her round three women's singles match against Jie Zheng of China on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 27, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LONDON - JUNE 27: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia speaks during a press conference after she lost her round three women's singles match against Jie Zheng of China on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 27, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Certainly, her talent is indisputable ... but what about her looks? It would be far too noble to judge a female athlete on her accomplishments alone, so let's examine her more closely. After the jump, enjoy more photos, half-assed analysis, and the unapologetically superficial poll.
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