Former top tennis player Ana Ivanovic has revealed she suffered severe panic attacks during matches.

According to the Croatian portal 24sata.hr on Thursday, the 38-year-old told a Croatian TV programme: "In the last few years I had very strong panic attacks as soon as I went on court. I never spoke about it but I really had intense panic attacks."

The Serbian, who retired early aged 29 in 2016 having won 15 titles including the 2008 French Open and reached world number one, was hiding a secret behind her competitive drive and model looks.

"People wondered what had suddenly happened in the middle of the match, why I had fallen over and in reality I was simply panicking and could not go on," she said.

"I was overwhelmed by the fear of having to go back on court the next day and play in front of an audience."

Ivanovic married German football star Bastian Schweinsteiger just before her retirement and the couple announced their separation last year.