Beach Party

Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships. Maria of Moscow uneveils the face and figure that will prompt millions of mouse clicks.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour moved indoors in Paris this week, but three of the tour's most photogenic players — Maria Kirilenko, Daniela Hantuchova and Tatiana Golovin — have hit the beach in their bikinis today.

The trio are all featured prominently in the new 46th annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue that hit newstands today. To view the tennis stars' photo spreads, please visit this Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue link.

Kirilenko, Hantuchova and Golovin follow in the footsteps of former tennis players-turned SI swimsuit models Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Internet Icon Anna Kournikova, Steffi Graf and Tommy Haas, who have all appeared in past Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues.

"I have incredible memories of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot that will stay with me forever," Kirilenko said. "(SI photographer) Walter Iooss is so far the best photographer that I’ve had an opportunity to work with and the shoot and the time spent with the fellow players and the Sports Illustrated crew is very memorable."

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is one of the best selling magazines in the world each year and is a global multi-media extravaganza, with the annual issue last year being read by more than 66 million people and generating 364 million page views.

During the five day photo shoot on the secluded beaches of the Dominican Republic, Hantuchova, Kirilenko and Golovin posed for visually dynamic photo spreads. 

"Being a part of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue was a unique experience that gave me a rare and fun opportunity to let the people see me in a different light, away from the tennis court," Hantuchova said. "I loved doing it, it's a real honor and it's also every girl's dream to be featured in that issue. We got to do the shooting in the Dominican Republic, which happens to be one of the most beautiful places I've been to so it was definitely amazing."

The stunning photos of all three athletes were shot by Walter Iooss, Jr., considered by many to be the leading sports photographer of his generation and best known for the nearly 300 photographs he’s produced for Sports Illustrated including portraits of famous athletes such as Michael Jordan, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Ken Griffey, Jr.