Since winning the French Open two years ago, Serbian Ana Ivanovic has seen her ranking fall 61 spots. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)

Miffed former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic has declined an offer of a wild card entry into the main draw of next week's women's Rogers Cup.

In a posting on her website this week, Ivanovic said her request for a wild card was turned down months ago. When tournament director Eugene Lapierre decided to offer her direct entry into the Montreal tournament on Tuesday, she turned it down.

Ivanovic, who won the Rogers Cup in Montreal in 2006, said her refusal was due to comments made about her by Lapierre to a Montreal newspaper.

Lapierre had said the 22-year-old Serb didn't deserve a wild card because she wasn't playing well. He was also hoping to leave a spot open for local player Stephanie Dubois.

"I would have loved to play Montreal but I was quite hurt by the comments of Mr. Lapierre," Ivanovic said.

She added that even without a wild card, she would have been happy to play in the qualifying tournament "but I felt he stepped over the line with this interview, making public our correspondence and even misrepresenting it. Unfortunately, I don't feel welcome at the tournament."

Lapierre issued a statement saying Ivanovic was always welcome at the Rogers Cup.

"I repeat that I adore Ana Ivanovic," he said. "Women's tennis needs her to get back to top form.

"I'm sorry if she feels she has been wronged that we chose to give the wild cards to women from Quebec. Montrealers love Ana and we will always be happy to have her back."

Since winning the French Open and taking over the world No. 1 ranking in 2008, injuries and spotty play have seen her drop to 62nd in the world. However, she has reached the quarter-finals of a tournament in Cincinnati this week.

On Wednesday, Lapierre announced that Dubois, Aleksandra Wozniak and Valerie Tetreault were given wild cards for the tournament, which starts Monday at Uniprix Stadium.