Ivanovic denies diet rumours

Moskow - Former world number one Ana Ivanovic insists that she is not suffering from a weight-loss crisis despite her new slimline look prompting fears that the sport's gruelling demands were taking a drastic toll.

The 24-year-old Serb also rejected rumours that she has been on a crash diet ordered by her sponsors to force her to lose weight.

"I dont feel that I've seriously lost weight," Ivanovic told AFP at the Kremlin Cup on Friday where she reached the semi-finals.

"This year I've been working really hard and I was travelling a lot. I experienced some stressful situations and sometimes lacked quality food during my travels.

"But I believe that when I get home at the end of the season, I'll feel myself more relaxed and will gain some more weight."

Ivanovic, who is currently 12th in the world, also said that despite losing weight, she still has enough energy to keep her playing powerfully on court.

"I have enough energy but I think I shall become more stronger anyway because I play aggressive tennis and need to get that heaviness of the shot, so that's the feature which I still have to work on," added the 2008 French Open champion.

Kremlin Cup - Quarterfinal results:

Men

Malek Jaziri, Tunisia, def. Lukas Rosol, Czech Republic, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Andreas Seppi (2), Italy, def. Tatsuma Ito (8), Japan, 6-2, 6-1.

Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, def. Edouard Roger-Vasselin, France, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Thomaz Bellucci (4), Brazil, def. Jerzy Janowicz, Poland, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Women

Caroline Wozniacki (3), Denmark, def. Dominika Cibulkova (5), Slovakia, 6-2, 6-7 (1), 6-1.

Sofia Arvidsson, Sweden, def. Maria Kirilenko (7), Russia, 6-3, 6-3.

Samatha Stosur (1), Australia, def. Klara Zakopalova, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-3.

Ana Ivanovic (4), Serbia, def. Vesna Dolonc, Serbia, 6-4, 6-1.