Stars back women's tour

World number four Ana Ivanovic and two-time grand slam winner Maria Sharapova have backed the WTA Tour to remain clean as the men's ATP Tour continues to battle gambling issues.

Italian number one Potito Starace was recently banned for six weeks by the ATP for betting on matches while his compatriots Daniele Bracciali and Alessio Di Mauro have been handed stiffer penalties for more severe offences.

But Ivanovic said: "We haven't had any cases on the WTA Tour. We are very competitive on the Tour and I hope it will stay like that,"

The crackdown from the ATP comes as an investigation continues into betting irregularities surrounding the match between world number four Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello in August.

Although the men's game appears troubled, Ivanovic is confident similar problems will not appear on the WTA Tour.

Ivanovic added: "We are a lot more competitive than the men, we just want to win every match we play. It's very important to keep it clean, it's all about competition and the challenge and I think that is the way it should be.

"I have never heard of anything in women's tennis and I have never been approached by anyone. I just hope it will stay that way."

Sharapova echoed Ivanovic's comments.

"It is in the best interest of tennis and our Tour to keep it as clean as possible," said world number five Sharapova.

"I think as an athlete you have to believe in your own ability. It's unfortunate that you do hear about these things, but sometimes they are just rumours and unless you show me a fact sheet with a bunch of facts they will remain rumours. As far as I am concerned right now the WTA Tour is clean."