from timefreepress.com

Pro Harkleroad Being Marketed
By EDDIE BAKER
Staff Writer 

Ashley Harkleroad had other things on her mind besides getting her driving learner's permit when she turned 15. That rite of passage took a back seat to becoming a professional tennis player.
She has her permit now. She also has an agency promoting her tennis career, a coach guiding her, travel itineraries, the works.

"It's more exciting than scary," Harkleroad said from Florida. "Sure, it's a little scary, but what is happening for me right now is what I've been waiting on all my life. Forever, it seems.

"I've put a lot of time and sweat into getting where I am. I thought one day I'd make it, but I didn't think it'd be at 15."

The girl who grew up in the North Georgia communities of Chickamauga and Flintstone has traveled, has played sets against the No. 1 women's tennis player on the planet, and has more opportunities ahead.

When Harkleroad, 14 at the time, won California's Easter Bowl Girls' 18s singles championship in 1999, the tennis world paid attention. Suddenly ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in Girls' 16s and 18s, she was pursued by sports agencies.

Going head-to-head with SFX Sports Group and IMG, Michael Ovitz's Artists Management Group of Beverly Hills, Calif., won the Harkleroads' hearts and Ashley's signature. Jill Smoller, a professional tennis player turned talent agent turned sports agent, signed her to a three-year management contract.

Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras' coach, also worked with Smoller on the signing.

"AMG, SFX and IMG were all pursuing Ashley after her Easter Bowl win," said Danny Harkleroad, Ashley's father. "We feel like she can play on the pro level, although she just needs a little bit more experience. It just seemed like the timing was right and that Ashley was ready. It seemed like an easy decision."

"I was amazed what winning that one tournament did for Ashley," said Tammy, her mom. "It all happened so quickly.'

Turning pro has always been the plan.

"I'm the right age," Harkleroad said. "All the agents want to sign you when you're younger. And I've been playing really well. The offers started coming in and we felt the time was right to make the move. Besides, I liked the people wanting to sign me.

"I believe my game's ready, but sure, I still have more improving to do. I'm ready for the challenges. I can play with these girls."

Since moving to Wesley Chapel, Fla., and the Saddlebrook Resort last year, Harkleroad has improved her game considerably, she said. She gets to smack balls around with No. 1-ranked Martina Hingis -- a Saddlebrook resident when not on the tour -- quite frequently.

She's also played Hingis in sets twice.

"I lost 6-2 both times, but that's pretty good, isn't it? And I've hit with Jennifer Capriati (another Saddlebrook resident), but she would rather hit with the guys," Harkleroad said.

Harkleroad's potential marketabilty comes from more than her athletic skills, Smoller told Sports Business Journal recently.

"Ashley is the total package. She is blond and very pretty," Smoller stated. "She has a great personality. She has all of the tools to be a world-class tennis player."

Smoller said that movie and television projects could be in the young player's future. While in Paris last week for the French Open Junior tournament, the 5-foot-7 Harkleroad had a photo shoot with Seventeen magazine.

"If I don't get bumped, I'll be in it," she said. "And as far as the movies, of course I want to do that. Anyone would be crazy to not want to."

With Anna Kournikova gracing the latest cover of Sports Illustrated, Harkleroad empathizes with the Russian.

"I liked it a lot. I thought it was so good, but at the French almost all the people thought it was ridiculous," she said. "They said she hasn't done anything on the tennis court to get on Sports Illustrated's cover.

"But you know what. It's a big seller. I bought the last issue at the airport. I'd say it sold out everywhere."

Kournikova hasn't won a major title on the tour. Nonetheless, she's captured the hearts of millions and made millions doing so.

Now Harkleroad's future rests in Smoller's guidance. She will play the Wimbledon Junior event and could possibly earn a wild card into the U.S. Open main draw. She just completed three weeks in Europe on red-clay events.

"I like Jill so much," Harkleroad said. "She really, really takes care of me. She's always on the phone trying to help me. I'll say, 'You can relax,' but she won't. I don't have to worry about anything. (The agency) wants me to get the most experience I can and doesn't expect me to win, win, win right away.

"I'm in good hands, doing what I've always wanted to do."
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