* Britain’s World No. 8 Konta headlines the second day of main draw action
* WTA line-up includes 10 of the world’s top 50 players
* GB Davis Cup star Dan Evans top seed for ATP event
The summer of tennis has started and the stars are descending on East Midlands for the Aegon Open Nottingham, starting Saturday June 10, for what is the first WTA grass-court event in the lead up to The Championships, Wimbledon.
Britain’s World No. 8 Johanna Konta headlines a strong field at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, which includes 10 of the world’s top 50 players and features former French Open finalist Lucie Safarova.
Konta will get her grass-court campaign started on Centre Court on Tuesday 13 June, and there will be plenty more British talent on show with fellow GB Fed Cup player Heather Watson among the WTA stars and Dan Evans leading the local charge in the ATP 150K Challenger Tour tournament.
Konta said: “I’m excited and looking forward to getting onto Centre Court at the Aegon Open Nottingham on Tuesday. As the first home tournament in the build up to Wimbledon there is something very special about playing on British grass in front of passionate local fans.
“Nottingham is a city that I know well and the Nottingham Tennis Centre is a venue I enjoy playing at – starting next week I’m hoping to add to my happy memories there.”
In what is an historic event for the city, as the first time in 44 years that a WTA and ATP event has been jointly hosted in the city, there is excitement galore instore from the very beginning, with Marcus Willis – the fairytale story of Wimbledon 2016 as the player who went through every round of qualifying to meet Roger Federer on Centre Court in the second round – featuring in qualifying in Nottingham this weekend.
There will be party atmosphere at the Nottingham Tennis Centre on qualifying weekend, with children aged under 16 give free entry and adult tickets on sale for £5. Fans are encouraged to attend dressed up as their favourite superhero for what promises to be a fun, family weekend out.