• Tennis

Radwanska in trouble after naked photoshoot

ESPN staff
July 17, 2013
Agnieszka Radwanska poses for ESPN Magazine © ESPN
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Wimbledon women's semi-finalist Agnieszka Radwanska is in hot water after she stripped off for a special 'Body Issue' of ESPN Magazine.

Radwanska, a Catholic, has been condemned by youth group Krucjata Mlodych (Youth Crusade), who until now she was a representative for, who described the shoot as 'immoral behaviour' and immediately axed her from its campaigns. She had starred in an advertisement for the group where she spelt out 'Jesus' with tennis balls and told people not to be ashamed of their faith.

'It's a shame that someone who has declared their love for Jesus is now promoting the mentality of men looking at a woman as a thing rather than a child of God worthy of respect and love," fumed Catholic priest Father Marek Dziewiecki.

"If she meets a man who she can truly love and establish a happy family and raise Catholic children, then she would probably have to hide these pictures from relatives."

Radwanska was among several athletes who stripped down to pose for the magazine. Other athletes photographed include San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, 77-year-old golf Hall of Famer Gary Player, Olympic volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings -- during and after her pregnancy -- and Matt Harvey and Giancarlo Stanton from Major League Baseball.

ESPN The Magazine editor-in-chief Chad Millman said the athletes were "proud of the work they put into being strong and powerful and we're proud that they trust us to capture that".

The pictures were always likely to divide opinion in Poland where almost 90% of the population are Catholic.

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