The Bald and the Beautiful

It was an intriguing weekend in starkly different ways for Maria Sharapova and Ivan Ljubicic.

This earthly existence continues to be a hard-knock life for Sharapova, who was forced onto a wet beach in six-inch heels for a photo shoot. What's singularly interesting about that photo is that Maria appears to have chopped her blonde locks. For charity? For sport? For the sake of her photo art? Who knows? But this we know: She and her gears-churning marketing machine will clue in all of us. When they want to clue in all of us. Soon enough.

UPDATE: According to her hairstylist Adir Abegel's Facebook images, it seems Sharapova has indeed shorn her goldilocks. That, or it's another clever photo/style trick. See the shots here and here.

FINAL UPDATE: It truly was a wig, based on what birth-week girl Sharapova told Just Jared. And now we may all return to our regularly scheduled lives.

Meanwhile, the shiny-domed Ljubicic called it a career this weekend after falling in the ATP's Monte Carlo Masters event in the first round to his Croatian compatriot, Ivan Dodig. Take a look at that, when the two friendly foes met at the net post-match. Truly a sporting scene. And do check out Steve Tignor's parting shots on Ljubicic's career here.

It's a fitting send-off for a nobleman of the sport, all class and grace. And on a different level, there's yet another fitting scene for the resident diva of women's tennis.

—Jonathan Scott (Find me on Twitter @jonscott9.)

Photo via Adir Abergel Fan Page on Facebook