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The starlet who's taken Maria Sharapova's crown (and we're not just talking tennis)

Updated 12:58pm on 20 Jun 2008



Serbian tennis champ Ana Ivanovic has not only taken Maria Sharapova's tennis crown, as the current holder of the French Open, but she looks set to overtake her in the glamour stakes too.

The 20-year-old Grand Slam winner stepped out at last night's pre-Wimbledon party in  a body-skimming black cocktail dress and heels clearly throwing down the gauntlet off court to her Russian rival.

Rising star Ivanovic wrested the French Open title from previous holder Maria, 21, earlier this year making her the No.1 seed in women's tennis.

And clearly, she is staking a claim to become the game's pin-up.


Glam slam: World number one women's tennis champ Ana Ivanovic has thrown down the gauntlet in the style stakes to Maria Sharapova

Also in attendance at the London party was former world number one Maria Sharapova.

The 21-year-old Russian blonde, a former Wimbledon champion, wore a silky grey dress, cut high above the knee.

The 20-year-old French Open winner posed for photos on the red carpet along tennis champ and number six seed Serena Williams, her sister Venus and Sharapova.

The 6ft 1in Serbian towered over Virgin boss and party host Sir Richard Branson - in jacket and jeans - and his son Sam.

ivanovic

Short stop: Ana towers over party host Richard Branson

Not to be outdone was world number six Serena Williams, known for her extravagant fashion sense.

Serena Williams arrives in a 2 million pound dress designed by Jenny Packham and encrusted with Neil Duttson diamonds for the Pre-Wimbledon party at the Kensington Roof Gardens,

Williams sported a "million pound look", masterminded by celebrity hairdresser Stuart Phillips and luxury jeweller Neil Duttson, known as the Rock Doctor.

The American powerhouse piled on the bling, with her hair in a bun covered in diamonds, and a figure-hugging black and white dress designed by Matthew
Williamson.

Serena Williams wear a million dollar look with a £2million Jenny Packham diamond encrusted dress

She also wore a 10 carat diamond tennis bracelet set in white gold, with a diamond necklace and matching earrings.

Despite the party, Ivanovic had her mind firmly on the upcoming Wimbledon tournament which begins on Monday.

Venus Williams and Elena Jankovic at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour pre-Wimbledon Player Party

Ivanovic said: 'I like all the traditions. It's the grass, it's playing in white, it's the Sunday off, it's the rain.

'It's going to be a new experience for me, because I never started a grand slam as the number one in the world. It's exciting.

'Of course, my goal is to win this tournament. Along with the Australian Open, Wimbledon is the tournament I want the most.'

Enlarge wimbledon

(L-R) Tennis players Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Elena Jankovic enjoy the party before they do battle at Wimbledon






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