Former tennis star and Playboy model Ashley Harkleroad is single once again as she navigates a divorce. The ex-WTA professional has announced her separation from Chuck Adams, her husband of nearly 17 years.
Harkleroad, 40, was once considered a formidable tennis prospect, reaching a career-high ranking of 39th in the world back in 2003. However, she retired in 2012 at the age of 27, opting instead to pursue a career in modelling and eventually adult content. She launched an adult subscription account in 2022, through which fans could access premium material, though the account has since been removed. It was during her peak years that Harkleroad made history as the first active tennis player to pose nude in Playboy, back in August 2008.
It was around this same period that she fell pregnant with the first of her two children with Adams, a fellow former professional who claimed victory at an ATP World Series event in 1993. The pair married in September 2009, with Harkleroad continuing her modelling career throughout their relationship.
However, the mother of two has now confirmed the marriage has come to an end after Adams filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences,” according to TMZ.
“I got married when I was 19 years old,” Harkleroad recently told TMZ. “I’ve spent the majority of my life listening to men. Obeying them, my dad, my coach who was also my husband.
“And although he is an incredible father and lifelong friend it’s time for me to live my life on my own terms. I deserve that. Freedom.”
Harkleroad has a son, Charlie, who plays basketball and frequently appears on her social media channels. The 17-year-old has been attending Cleveland High School and was recently named the West Valley League’s Most Valuable Player.
Harkleroad and Adams also share a daughter, Cissy, who has followed in her parents’ footsteps into the world of tennis. However, the teenager hasn’t shared any recent updates about her sporting pursuits.
This marks Harkleroad’s second divorce, having previously been married to fellow tennis star Alex Bogomolov Jr. The couple tied the knot in December 2004 but split in October 2006.