A FORMER Wimbledon finalist looks totally unrecognisable these days after ditching his luscious locks.
The player now sports a thinning bald style, as he showcased when he made a brief appearance in the French show Dancing With The Stars.
This former French tennis star is now the director of the Paris Masters
He and Aussie professional partner Katrina Patchett were eliminated in the first round in October 2011 after disappointing with their rumba dance to Adele’s Rolling In The Deep.
It was not the first time he had fallen at the first hurdle in his career – with this tennis ace getting knocked out in round one of 16 Grand Slams in his career.
That included the 1998 Wimbledon – just 12 months after reaching the final at the All England Club.
The right-handed Frenchman, born in the western suburbs of Paris, was dispatched 6-4 6-2 6-4 by Pete Sampras in the 1997 showpiece, the American’s fourth SW19 crown.
Photos from the trophy ceremony show the defeated runner-up smiling with his silver plate and thick mop of dark hair.
The comprehensive victory came after Sampras beat the same opponent by virtually the same scoreline four years earlier in the US Open final – the only other Grand Slam of the Frenchman’s career.
The mystery tennis star is… Cedric Pioline.
Pioline, now 54, enjoyed 13 years as a professional on the ATP Tour, winning five singles titles plus the Davis Cup twice and reaching a career-high ranking of No5.
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The 6ft 2ins star, who comes from a volleyball family, hung up his racket in 2002.
He stepped into tennis administration in retirement and in 2008 became tournament director of the Paris Masters event – and occasionally competes on the veterans’ Champions Tour.
However, Pioline is doing it with a very different look these days – after shaving off his hair.
Cedric Pioline reached No5 in the world rankings
He lost to Pete Sampras in the 1997 Wimbledon final
