Ten gorgeous reasons to love tennis

It happens every year at this time. From the end of May til the middle of September, everything else becomes meaningless, and my entire being is focused on one thing - tennis.

What is it about tennis that makes it arguably the most popular spectator sport for gay men? I don't have any statistics to back that up, but from personal experience, most of the gay men I've known (even the ones who generally detest watching sports) follow tennis. For me, I think it comes down to the personalities and the drama.

There was Martina Navratilova, who took the harassment and scorn of homophobia and triumphantly turned it around, becoming a legend and one of the greatest gay icons of all time. Monica Seles (my all time favorite), who brought power to the women's game, who was well on her way to becoming the all time best, then watched it all disappear in one of the most horrific moments in sports history. The Williams Sisters, who brought much needed diversity to the sport, and the sexpot campiness of Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova.

On the men's side, there's an added appeal for gay fans. In addition to the personalities and drama, tennis has the hottest men of any sport. There have been plenty of hot tennis guys in the past, like Patrick Rafter, Mark Philippoussis, and Bjorn Borg. Here are ten active players to add to the list, and if you weren't a fan before, maybe this will help convince you.

Andy Roddick - USA

I have to admit, Andy Roddick is not my favorite player (he can be very obnoxious at times), but I also have to admit that he's still the sport's reigning male pin-up. I also think he's so much hotter with a little meat on his bones.

Robby Ginepri - USA

Robby Ginepri (aka "my mountain man") is not as well known as his fellow Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake, but he's every bit as hot.

See more tennis hotties, and a clip of a big Russian in his underwear, after the break.

Tommy Haas - Germany

Tommy Haas is over 30 now, but his good looks are ageless.

Janko Tipsarevic - Serbia

Janko Tipsarevic is my favorite new player, and the only Serbian player I like. He's best known for taking King Federer to five sets at the Australian Open.

James Blake - USA

Sweet baby James Blake has had to endure a lot over the years. That gorgeous smile and sexy bald head make me melt.

Novak Djokovic - Serbia

I'm including Novak Djokovic because he's tennis's new "IT" boy. He won the Australian Open, and has talked a lot of trash, especially about King Fed. Personally, he gets on my nerves, but I can't deny that he strikes an imposing figure.

Arnaud Clement - France

Let's hear it for the sexy little guys! Arnaud Clement may be one of the most diminutive player on the tour, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in hotness.

Roger Federer - Switzerland

Roger Federer is the greatest player of all time, not to mention one of the hottest. What else needs to be said?

Rafael Nadal - Spain

I'm torn when it comes to Rafael Nadal. On tennis messageboards, I refer to him as either "Evil Rafa" or "The butt picking wedgie boy" (for his constant adjusting of the underwear around his bubble butt). I've never warmed to him because he has the nerve to thrash my Roger on clay, but I can't deny the fact that he is an awesome specimen.

Marat Safin - Russia

Temperamental Russian Marat Safin has been known by many nicknames, "Ivan Drago", and "the horniest horndog who's ever played the game" (he used to show up at tournaments with at least two or three blonde bimbos with him). He's not the player he used to be, but he's just as hot. You can see a clip of Marat below, when he was in his prime