Abby Brammell

Belle of the balls: World no 45 Ana Ivanovic, voted the sexiest woman in tennis, in a magazine photo shoot
She won the French Open in 2008, when she was ranked No 1 in the world, but has slid to No 45 ahead of Wimbledon.


When Ana Ivanovic posed in a provocative pink bikini for Sports Illustrated magazine, it probably didn’t win her any female friends within Wimbledon.

Her position in the rankings seems to be dropping off at roughly the same rate as her clothes - or so the fiercely competitive ladies on the women's tennis tour might comment, when they see the below photo.

The 22-year-old Serbian, recently named as the sexiest tennis player for the fifth year running, posed in nothing but the bikini in a pond of pink balls

Now she has revealed the behind-the-scenes bitchiness that goes on between the women of Wimbledon.

Although the male players seem to get along, she claims, the ladies on the court don’t.

She said yesterday that the players compete over 'who's the prettiest, who's the most popular, the most fashionable, who's getting the most coverage. In the men's game, they're all friends. But we're not friends.'

Miss Ivanovic is not alone in choosing racy photo shoots to boost her profile - as can be seen by the provocative shot of Serena Williams below, taken for the U.S. Vibe Magazine.


Guts and glamour: Serena Williams in Vibe magazine looking sexy in a skimpy bodysuit


But that probably won't save Miss Ivanovic from a few catty calls.

British number one Elena Baltacha, 2, also claimed yesterday that tennis rackets had been sabotaged, food was stolen and most of the women were incredibly unfriendly.

'You need a medal just to be in this environment. To actually survive,' she said.

British teen Laura Robson has been highly critical of her peers, describing some of them as 'sluts'.


Laura Robson (left) has been highly critical of her peers, describing some of them as 'sluts', while Elena Baltacha (right) claims that tennis rackets had been sabotaged


source: dailymail