Ana Ivanovic believes her Eastbourne debut could be the key to success at Wimbledon.

The former world No. 1 and reigning French Open champion is the first marquee name to confirm her entry in the women’s draw at next month’s AEGON International at Devonshire Park.

The 21-year-old Serbian will be vying for the spotlight with top male players like Frenchman Richard Gasquet in Eastbourne’s first year as a combined event.

And Ivanovic will be hoping for better luck in the build-up to Wimbledon than on her previous visit to the south coast.

That was in 2005, when the current world No. 7 was forced to withdraw from the tournament through injury.

Since then she has gone on to become the darling of the tennis world, taking the title of clay court queen at Roland Garros last year and subsequently reaching the top of the world rankings.

Ivanovic said: “I’m excited about the AEGON International. I saw (in 2005) that it’s a very nice place to be and quite relaxing too.

“It looks like perfect preparation before Wimbledon, which is one of the most intense tournaments in tennis. I have also heard that the quality of the grass at Eastbourne is very good so I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself.

“Last year I won my first Grand Slam title at the French Open and became No. 1 for the first time. It was definitely the most exciting time of my career but also the most emotional.

“I had a small injury that stopped me from practising immediately after but mentally I was quite tired and I wasn’t totally prepared for another Grand Slam so soon. I also wasn’t properly adjusted to grass.

“Playing at the AEGON International will allow me to make the surface adjustment quicker. There is no better way to get used to a new surface than to play competitive matches.

“It’s going to be a very tough six-week period – between the start of the French Open and the end of Wimbledon – but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Ivanovic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2007, flopped last year after a routine straight sets victory in the French final against Dinara Safina.

Top seed at the All England Club, she came through a gruelling second round match against French veteran Nathalie Dechy before a shock exit against unseeded Chinese wildcard Zheng Jie.

Ivanovic is advocating a longer gap between the second and third Grand Slam events of the season.

“I would like to see an extra week between the French Open and Wimbledon, to allow us more time to rest after a tough Grand Slam and get used to the new surface,” she said. “It’s definitely the most difficult part of the tennis season. The two surfaces are obviously completely different - they are the two most extreme surfaces we have. But the courts at Wimbledon are quite bouncy these days, so there are some similarities with hard courts even.

“It’s not only about the surface change but, if you’ve done well at the French Open, it’s tough to keep going with the same intensity mentally.

“Clay is tiring both physically and mentally because of the long points, where you need to concentrate fully.

“On grass you also need to be very focused, because the point can be over very quickly if you relax and allow your opponent an opportunity to hit a winner.

l Visit www.aegoninternational.co.uk for tickets and more information on the Eastbourne event.