Former No.1 tennis player Kim Clijsters has criticised the media attention surrounding her split with Australian Lleyton Hewitt and denied rumours that another love interest was behind the breakup just four months ahead of their planned wedding.

Clijsters announced the separation from her fiancee last week and after initial shock, media have been searching to find out what was behind the sudden decision.

"What is the world coming to when journalists camp in front of my house and follow the rest of my family? ... When there are people who claim to know that Lleyton or I already have someone else, which is a gross lie," she wrote in her web diary on www.kimclijsters.com.

Clijsters announced Friday on her Web site that their planned February wedding had been called off and that the pair had split up.

The Sunday Telegraph had reported Hewitt had been left "angry, embarrassed and devastated."

Hewitt's grandfather, Max Hewitt, said he was shocked when told the news on Friday night.

"It's a big surprise," he was quoted as saying. "We're trying to find out what happened. We have no idea what went wrong."

Clijsters said she hoped the media attention would stop immediately.

"Why are all these presumptions elevated to national news," she said.

"I hope everyone will show a bit of respect and understanding for myself and the family."

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