By Dayne Hudson
For those of you who work hard for your muscles, showing them off is a must.
And whilst strength and subsequent gains can come from those women who are the Queens of the tennis arena, some of them don't like to show them off.
And some, well, just hate them.
Serena Williams
Serena says she covers hers up (which also prevents her being recognised).
“I don’t touch a weight, because I’m already super fit and super cut, and if I even look at weights, I get bigger,” she said.
Agnieszka Radwanska
The coach of polish tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska, has taken a much bigger stance - basically declaring war on females gains.
Tomasz Wiktorowski says: “it’s our decision to keep her as the smallest player in the top 10.... because, first of all she’s a woman, and she wants to be a woman.”
Andrea Petkovic
Andrea Petkovic is a German ranked 14th in the world, and says she hates seeing pictures of her hitting backhands with both hands, as this makes her muscles pop right out.
“I just feel unfeminine,” she said.
“I don’t know — it’s probably that I’m self-conscious about what people might say. It’s stupid, but it’s insecurities that every woman has, I think. I definitely have them and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I would love to be a confident player that is proud of her body. Women, when we grow up we’ve been judged more, our physicality is judged more, and it makes us self-conscious.”
Petkovic says people point out she looks a lot smaller when they meet her in real in comparison to how she appears on TV and in photographs.
“People say, ‘Oh, you’re so skinny, I always thought you were huge,’.....and then I feel like there are 80 million people in Germany who think I’m a bodybuilder. Then, when they see me in person, they think I’m O.K.”
Maria Sharapova
Now this is werid...
Russian Maria Sharapova, who looks fantastic, wishes to be thinner?!
“I always want to be skinnier with less cellulite; I think that’s every girl’s wish,” she said, laughing.
Cellulite? I better ask Santa for a microscope for Christmas...because there doesn't appear to be any there!
Sharapova says she avoids pumping weights for training, and can't stand lifting more than 5 pounds (2 kilograms)
"It’s just annoying, and it’s just too much hard work. And for my sport, I just feel like it’s unnecessary.”
Heather Watson
This British tennis star however, serves to the beat of a different tune.
“I actually like looking strong,” she says. “I find strong, fit women a lot more attractive than lanky no-shape ones.”
Caroline Wozniacki
Danish player Caroline Wozniacki has no problems adding muscle, but says she'd like to trim down after playing however.
Here she is below in a recent shoot for Sports Illustrated magazine.
“Right now I’m a tennis player, so I’m going to do everything I can to be the best tennis player that I can be.”
“If that means that I need to add a little muscle to my legs or my butt or whatever, then that’s what I’m going to do. I can be a model after I finish.”
Timea Bacsinszky
Timea Bacsinszky says she's learnt to become more confident and acceptable of her body.
“If I’m getting bigger, then I’m getting bigger,” sahe said.
“I know if it’s for my sport, and the good of my forehand and my backhand and my serve, then I will do it.”
Eugenie Bouchard
Then there's the Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard, who they call “the next Maria Sharapova” due to how well she's climbing the ranks.
She says she hopes to gain more size and strength!
“If I start to see it, I’ll be happy,” she said.
Then my personal favourite: “If it’s what you need to lift trophies, who cares what you look like?”
Exactly!
What do you think about how tennis stars perceive their gains?
"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!"
