Evert 'extremely disappointed' in Connors

• Chris Evert said she was %27extremely disappointed%27 in Jimmy Connors for a part in his new book
• Evert said he made public a private matter without her knowledge
• Connors hints in his book that Evert had an abortion 40 years ago

Jimmy Connors' new book, The Outsider, doesn't hit bookstores until next week, but it already has drawn quite a bit of attention.

One part in particular — a suggestion that Chris Evert had an abortion while she was dating Connors — prompted a response from Evert. Evert said in a statement to Reuters that she was "extremely disappointed" Connors had made an issue public without her knowledge.

"In his book, Jimmy Connors has written about a time in our relationship that was very personal and emotionally painful," Evert said in a statement released Saturday to Reuters through her agent Lawrence Frankopan at StarWing Sports.

"I am extremely disappointed that he used the book to misrepresent a private matter that took place 40 years ago and made it public, without my knowledge. I hope everyone can understand that I have no further comment."

Here is the excerpt from the book:

"Listen, an issue had arisen as a result of youthful passion and a decision had to be made as a couple.

"I was staying in an apartment and Nasty [Ilie Nastase] was there when Chrissie called to say she was coming out to LA to take care of that 'issue.' I was perfectly happy to let nature take its course and accept responsibility for what was to come. Chrissie, however, had already made up her mind that the timing was bad and too much was riding on her future. She asked me to handle the details."

'Well, thanks for letting me know. Since I don't have any say in the matter, then I guess I'm just here to help.' "