Paul Kimmage of the LONDON TIMES (via FAN IQ) has this recent exchange with Maria Sharapova in an interview with the 20-year-old.

Kimmage: “Okay, so let’s say I’m Hugh Hefner and I come knocking on your door with a fistful of dollars for Playboy. Are you interested?”

Sharapova: “I’ve met him … at the ESPY awards – the sport awards – there was this preparty held at the Playboy Mansion and I met him with all of the bunnies running around. It was funny.”

Kimmage: “He didn’t make you an offer (to pose in Playboy)?”

Sharapova (laughing): “No.”

Kimmage “And if he did you would refuse?”

Sharapova: “He didn’t make me an offer.”

So this is probably a joke to Sharapova, but obviously, it wouldn’t be to the good folks at Playboy. The mag would take her in a second. Not because she’s beautiful, but because of her celebrity.

Now Sania Mirza, she could be ranked #847 and still get her own spread (in our opinion, at least).