Best Athlete
Jarmila Gajdosova Kansas City Explorers
There's no doubt that, as the top doubles team in the world, Mike and Bob Bryan bring out the crowds for the Kansas City Explorers, one of 11 clubs in the professional World Team Tennis league. But, despite the Bryans' well-deserved celebrity, it was little-known Jarmila Gajdosova's drive and consistency that powered the Explorers to an improved 9-5 record in 2007. When entire matches rested on her shoulders as the final player in the team event, Gajdosova's gutsy play inspired well-dressed fans to forget their mild-mannered, golf-clap applause and jump to their feet with fist-pumping ovations. With a top-100 singles ranking on the international circuit, it's not surprising that this 20-year-old can hammer the ball with the kind of precision and strength that earned her the second-best winning percentage of any woman in the WTT this past season. But, more than her physical skill, Gajdosova has become a fan favorite for her nerves of steel and badass attitude. During the final match of the season, when she was heckled by a bunch of grown men acting like frat boys, this sassy Slovak turned around, looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Are you fucking kidding?" With that kind of swagger and the game to back it up, we're not kidding when we say this 2007 Female Rookie of the Year is reason enough to check out the Explorers.