In an effort to address the sport's most overheated and overrated controversy, the Women's Tennis Association is introducing some sort of preposterous grunt-o-meter. Here's USA Today's Doug Robson on what the WTA will be rolling out:

A few summers ago, Serena Williams was a part of an exhibition match on Randall's Island, and I went to see her play. The infamous Jason Whitlock column — the one that "seriously" asked, among other things, "how else can Serena fill out her size 16 shorts without grazing at her stall between matches?" — had been published…

"I think that it's asking too much of the women. They shouldn't be playing as many events as the men...You shouldn't push them to play more than they're capable of." Also, mouthy broads talking about shopping, etc. [NYDN]

Young tennis phenom Laura Robson has caused a small stir with a recent interview where she says that some of her fellow players are "sluts" who "go with every guy." Yeah, we're going to need some more information here.

Lately, there's been much clamoring around the internet about tennis steamstress Ashley Harkleroad's upcoming Playboy spread this month. With good reason, of course. Based on her recent ESPN the Mag interview about the shoot, she seems affable, confident, and very into herself: