Kirilenko adds glamour to the Australian Open

After the early exits of Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic from the women’s draw, the Australian Open appeared to be somewhat lacking in glamour. But the void has been ably filled by the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, Maria Kirilenko.

The 23-year-old Russian has progressed to the quarter finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career after a somewhat fortuitous win over Dinara Safina in the fourth round of the tournament. Safina was forced to retire while 4-5 down in the first set of their match with a recurrence of the back injury that ended her 2009 campaign.

Kirilenko has become a favourite of the Melbourne crowds and will now take on Wimbledon semi-finalist Jie Zheng as she bids for a place in the semi-finals.

In the women's doubles, Kirilenko will also make her first appearance in the quarter finals with her partner Agnieszka Radwanska this week after they beat Spanish third seeds Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Monday. That victory also coincided with Kirilenko's birthday and she was presented with a cake on court after the win.

The Russian, who turned pro in 2001 and is currently ranked 58th in the world, may not be used to such success on the court, but she is no stranger to the spotlight. In 2009 she appeared in the fabled Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition alongside fellow tennis pros Daniela Hantuchova and Tatiana Golovin. The three were featured modelling swimwear in a pictorial entitled Volley of the Dolls.

Kirilenko has also been the face of Stella McCartney's Adidas tennis range and counts the queen of tennis glamour, Maria Sharapova, among her friends despite beating her in the first round at Melbourne.

Editors note: Kirilenko lost her quarter final match against Jie Zheng