Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka will make her return to competition at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, accepting a WTA Tour wildcard into the event which takes place at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne from 14 to 21 June.
Azarenka, who has not played competitively since a left foot injury sidelined her after Indian Wells in March, joins a formidable list of top players who will be battling for grass court honours in Eastbourne where she was a finalist in 2010.
Belarusian Azarenka said she is excited to make her return to the WTA Tour at the prestigious Aegon International which celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer.
“I've worked hard to rehabilitate my injury and to get fit for my return,” said Azarenka, who made a strong start to the 2014 season reaching the final in Brisbane and the quarterfinals at the Australia Open prior to her injury break.
Twice a Wimbledon semifinalist, in 2011 and 2012, Azarenka said that the Aegon International provides the ideal tune-up for the third Grand Slam of the tennis calendar.
“I've played at Eastbourne three times and always enjoyed it. The grass courts are world class which will give me the best possible start to the second half of the season, and the perfect preparation for Wimbledon,” she said.
The Aegon International title has been claimed by some of the greatest legends in tennis history including Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, over its 40-year history and Azarenka said she's looking forward to taking another tilt at the title.
“I have great memories of playing at Eastbourne, particularly in 2010 when I reached the final, and 2014 is obviously a very special year for the tournament. The draw is incredibly strong as usual, and I am very excited to be a part of that,” she said.
In 2010 the then No.15-ranked Azarenka claimed some major scalps en route to the final, defeating No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska, No.5 Kim Clijsters and No.8 Marion Bartoli before falling to Ekaterina Makarova in a hard-fought contest.
Gavin Fletcher, Tournament Director at the Aegon International, said: “It's fantastic that Victoria Azarenka will make her make her return to the tour, and to Devonshire Park on the 40th anniversary of the tournament.
“Once again the event has attracted an incredible line-up with five players in the world's top 10 and ten of the world's top 20 competing including world No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska, world No.6 and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki.”