Speaking to press ahead of next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Ana Ivanovic revealed that she had suffered a broken toe prior to the tournament.

After reaching the final in her first event of 2015, Ivanovic was knocked out of the Australian Open in the first round in three sets by Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic. But a run of fine form from Hradecka wasn't the only factor that played a role in Ivanovic's downfall.

“With it being such a big event, and because I was in good form coming into the tournament, I did have a bit more expectation [at the Australian Open],” Ivanovic told the Gulf News. “But unfortunately things hadn’t gone so well in the week leading up to the tournament. I broke my toe and wasn’t able to practice as much as I’d planned. I felt quite stressed and these things combined meant that I wasn’t able to play my best tennis. But my opponent, Lucie Hradecka, played a great match and she deserved to win.”

Ivanovic says she’s disappointed with her performances in the majors of late. In her last nine majors, the former French Open champion has only reached the quarterfinals once.

“I haven’t had very good results in the Grand Slams lately so I need to work on my approach,” she said. “Maybe I should try something different, so I can relax more when I’m playing these big events.”

Though disappointed, the world No. 6 is not deterred by her tough luck at the Slams. Coming off her third career top five finish in 2014, which featured four titles and an upset of world No. 1 Serena Williams, Ivanovic is bullish on her own future.

“For sure, I can’t wait to get back on the court,” she told Gulf News. “The season is still very young and there is a lot to play for. I am looking forward, not back.”

In Dubai, Ivanovic will join a stacked field that included ten of the WTA’s top 12 players.

View the tournament’s official website here.