James Ward and Naomi Broady are among seven British players awarded wild cards into the Aegon Trophy starting at the Nottingham Tennis Centre on Monday (2nd June).
British No. 3 Ward, who was beaten in the first round of the French Open by 17th seed Tommy Robredo earlier this week,will feature in the main draw alongside Dan Cox, Daniel Smethurst and Britain’s top teen Kyle Edmund.
Aegon GB Fed Cup Team member Tara Moore, teenager Katy Dunne, and British No. 4 Broady join a strong women’s field that includes Britain’s No. 3 ranked player Johanna Konta and 12 of the top 100.
Broady has climbed to a career-high ranking of 163 after winning the $50,000 ITF event in Fukuoka, Japan, on grass earlier this month.
The 24-year-old’s impressive run of form this year also includes tournament wins in Uzbekistan and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Dunne has reached the semi-final stage of four ITF $10,000 events this year.
Paul Hutchins, the Aegon Trophy tournament director, said: “These wild card entries will be looking to make a real impression on the Aegon Trophy.
“It’s going to be a hugely important tournament for these players as they look to carry their strong early form this year into the British summer on grass.”
The men’s draw includes nine of the top 100, with Britain’s No.2 ranked player Dan Evans also competing.
Smethurst is looking to build on his impressive start to the year, having racked up 40 singles victories and claimed three Futures titles in the opening five months of 2014.
“It’s been a great year for me so far,” said Smethurst.
“The Aegon Trophy is unbelievably strong for a Challenger event. I really want to settle in at this sort of level.
“It will be a good experience as I try to find ways to beat these guys while also learning what my game is really like.”
The Aegon Trophy, commencing on Monday 2nd June (qualifying starting on Saturday, 31st May), is the first of back-to-back events making up the Nottingham Festival of Tennis, with the Aegon Challenge finishing on Sunday 15 June.
Entry to both the Aegon Trophy and Aegon Challenge is free for all spectators.
For more information about the Nottingham Festival of Tennis, visit www.nottinghamfestivaloftennis.com.