Nicole Scherzinger has dumped her toy boy lover.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Nicole is at a different stage in life to Grigor. She really likes him but wants to settle down - something he's not quite ready for ... She's aware she is not getting any younger and wants kids."

Nicole first went public with her relationship in January - two months after they started dating - when they were caught locking lips at a tournament in Australia.

But, although she's seemingly ended things with the athlete, the former Pussycat Dolls star is still hoping the 24-year-old hunk will change his mind after spending some time apart from her and will decide to take their romance to the next level by popping the question.

The source added: "She hopes he might come back with a proposal."

Nicole's relationship with the Bulgarian tennis professional is her first since her on/off seven-year romance with Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton came to an end in February last year.

The pair first got together in 2007 but kept splitting due to the 31-year-old star's refusal to settle down.

After their break-up last year, Nicole was seen smooching Swiss soccer star Pajtim Kasami and was rumoured to have had a brief fling with Ed Sheeran until she met Grigor a few months later.