TSF was lucky enough to drop by the launch party for the ATP World Tour 2009 Calendar at the W Times Square. The tour enlisted the help of a few good men — Dmitry Tursunov, Juan Monaco, Ivan Ljubicic, Paradorn Srichaphan, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Mikhail Youzhny, Tommy Haas, Marcos Bagdhatis, Tomas Berdych, Mike and Bob Bryan, Fernando Gonzalez, and Tommy Robredo (who isn’t so green about disrobing for the camera) — to pose for the 13-month skin-baring pin-up. We were joined for champagne by Dima, Juan, and Juan’s doubles partner Maximo Gonzalez.
Too bad French photographer Corinne Dubreuil, who shot these guys in Paris last year, wasn’t around for the event; you bet we wanted to ask her about shooting these shower pics of Arnaud Clement and these of Kolya Davydenko.
ATP jokester Tursunov (above, right) felt confident in his decision to pose shirtless for the calendar, and is ready for any locker room pranks pulled by his fellow athletes. “Bring ’em on,” he said. “We tennis players work hard for our bodies, and it’s definitely not in vain. So it’s nice to do something like this.” He added, “I’d rather people make fun of me for being fit than for being out of shape.”
And what did the scruffy Mr. Monaco, through a translator — sorry, my Spanish can’t cut it — think of his experience? “It was very important for me to develop my image outside the sport and have people outside the sport get to know me.” And showing skin didn’t faze him: “I just had fun with it.”
The ATP’s Chris O’Neill came up with the idea for the calendar while roaming the grounds of the Countrywide Classic. He watched Dima get mobbed by women (“who wanted to have his baby, who wanted to marry him” — all these crazy things) and realized that there was a side of the sport that wasn’t getting showcased. And we’re grateful for his idea.
Buy: Pick up the calendar for $13 at TW.
More pics: See some more pages from the calendar after the cut…
mary from cincinnati says
Give me the whole Spanish Armada: Rafa, Nando, Feli, David, Tommy, J.C., Charly, Nic, Guillermo, Albert (Montanes)….and maybe…Jo Willie and that Jamaican Dude Dustin Brown (Dreadlocks !!!) …..now that spells h o t !!!
Joanna says
I love the bodies. I could just picture me with monaco
Patchoi says
juan monacooooo *drools*
emily says
where`s nole ? 😐
Christine C says
I only bought it because Marcos Baghdadis was in it (IMO the cutest man on the tour)!!!! So Corrine Dubrieul IS a woman? Glad that question’s finally been answered for me. 🙂
carolina27 says
Where is Jan Michael Gambill????? He is definitely the hottest tennis player EVER!!!! He has a pretty face and a ripped swimmer’s body with washboard abs and great pecs!
jana says
Calender is not attractive, guys look older and hard due to photography, black/white format and shot selection, rather than young energetic and fun. And how do you sell a man ATP calender without Marat? Big failing, I certainly would have bought one with him in it.
Charlie says
Hmmm, should definitely have been:
Safin, Djokovic, Bolelli, Tsonga, Gonzalez, Blake, Verdasco, Tursunov, Lopez, Robredo, Tipsarevic… I might have just died.
Maybe Federer/Nadal too 😉
And what about Stepanek?! (jokes)
Mirjam says
No.1 Fernando… So sexy…. <3
edgar says
I think it was a good idea by ATP… but it did not turn out as they had imagined. The calendar is not soo good! The guys aren’t the hottest men on the tour either by virtue of physique or their court game.
…
Erwin says
It’s funny you mention Ferrer, Kelly, because when I was at the launch party, I kept mistaking Juan Monaco’s photo for Ferrer!
Kelly says
Hello!???
Where is DAVID FERRER!!! He should be on all twleve months, now that’s a calendar I would buy…every year.
nina says
youzhny looks rather angry and creepy, lujbicic doesn’t deserve to be in the calender and mathieu looks like he’s masturbating. sorry the truth hurts.
bethany says
no nadal, verdasco, lopez, safin, or blake? this stinks!
laura says
hot, but..were are the Serbs? no Nole, no Janko?..not sure i’ll buy it
Lady Hooligan Kat says
It’s a hot calendar, but it would’ve been HEAVEN with Robby Ginepri, Marat Safin and Feliciano Lopez in it!
Natalia says
Beautiful Fernando.
millieb13x says
august n december r fukin lush m8 !x