Meet The New Model Ball Girls!!! - photos included

Link : http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-13237914,00.html

GLAMOUR ON CENTRE COURT


New balls, please...

Tennis organisers in Spain have served up controversy by replacing ball boys and girls with fashion models.

Fans at the Madrid Masters cheered and whistled when they saw the models chasing balls around the court.


The women, aged between 19 and 27, were drafted in to replace the young fans who usually run around doing the job.


Some of the girls were licking their lips in anticipation of their first match.


They were given special outfits of a black top and a white, knee-length skirt.
There were immediately some claims that the decision to hire them was sexist and frivilous.

Not really sure where people would get that idea...

Coach Julio Nieto told the As newspaper it had been a challenge to teach the models the game because they knew little about it.

"How it is played, what a set is, what a game is, when to toss the ball," he said.


It's clearly gripping stuff.


Each model is reportedly being paid around £600 for the week under a scheme devised by fashion designer Hugo Boss.

"They did it very well. I didn't notice any difference," said player Albert Costa.

"It's entertaining, and I like the idea that the tournament should do this."


Most of the players said the sight of beautiful ladies running around the court in skimpy outfits had not been distracting.

"When you're on the court, you only look at the ball and your coach - as long as it's the same ball it doesn't matter (who throws it)," Alex Corretja said.

Sure Alex, sure...


Spanish player Albert Costa thought the new ball girls were doing a great job.

"It's entertaining, and I like the idea that the tournament should do this," he said.

Ok Albert, just stop staring!


However, the young ball girls that have been replaced were less enthusiastic.

"We think its very, very bad because in a game of tennis the centre of attention should be the player," said one unnamed 14-year-old. "It's sport, not a catwalk."

Looks pretty similar though, doesn't it...