Venus Williams is the latest player to proclaim her entry into next month's AEGON International at Eastbourne, the Lawn Tennis relationship confirmed. The five-time Wimbledon singles winner, who has not played a contest outside the grand slams since last May, will be one of 13 of the world's top 20 players taking part in the SW19 warm-up event, which begins on June 11.
Tournament director Gavin Fletcher said:We assure to deliver world-class tennis to Eastbourne, so to attract 13 of the world's top 20, and five of the world's top 10, is a real coup for the contest.I think it's unbelievable that Venus has entered this year as it promises to be another exciting week of high-class women's tennis.
Williams, right now ranked 16th in the world, has played at Devonshire Park two times before but not since 1998, when she lost to Natasha Zvereva in the second round.