She’s a former world No. 1 in her sport but Maria Sharapova proved in her new Nike campaign that she’s not bad at modelling either.
The Russian tennis player showed off her rock hard abs and bulging biceps while she was being photographed by Annie Leibovitz.
The stunning 24-year-old, who is also an American citizen, posed in tiny blue hot pants and a white sports bra while holding an abdominal crunch position.
And by the look of her washboard stomach, she is no stranger to intense core workouts that focus on the abdominals.
In the other photograph for the Nike ‘Make Yourself’ campaign, Sharapova poses alongside a bevvy of fellow female sports stars – each one stunning in the photoshoot.
Fellow tennis player Li Na of China joins Sharapova in the campaign, alongside runners Allyson Felix of the US and British Perri Shakes-Drayton, American footballer Hope Solo, Algerian dancer Sofia Boutella and Australian surfer Laura Enever.
Li Na joins Sharapova, alongside runners Allyson Felix and Perri Shakes-Drayton, football player Hope Solo, dancer Sofia Boutella and surfer Laura Enever in the group portrait.
In the group photograph the star models Nike jogging bottoms and a loose grey T-shirt.
The advertisements will appear in upcoming issues of Seventeen, InStyle and Glamour magazines.
But Nike have kept tight-lipped over how much they paid for the campaign.
Meanwhile, Sharapova is going to play her next tournament at Wimbledon 2011.
The world No. 6 ranked player lost the Grand Slam title at the French Open, where she was beaten in the semi finals by Na Li of China last week.
But she’s ready to bring her A-game back to London, where she won the Wimbledon title in 2004 at a tender 17-years-old.
She will be joined by tennis super star Serena Williams at this year’s Wimbledon, giving Sharapova some tough competition in the women’s category.
Off the court, Sharapova has had a successful private life too and is engaged to Slovenian NBA basketball player Sasha Vujacic.
Sharapova is also no stranger to the world of modelling on the side of her sporting career and has appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the past, among other magazine shoots.
