The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has confirmed today that former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and British star Heather Watson will play at the Aegon Open Nottingham WTA event in June. Wozniacki and Watson will be joining a world class player field which includes Victoria Azarenka at the Nottingham Tennis Centre.
Wozniacki has won 23 tour titles, including the Aegon International Eastbourne in 2009, and has two Grand Slam finals to her name. The Danish star also ended both 2010 and 2011 seasons as world No.1.
Watson will also be making her WTA tournament debut at Nottingham this year after having to withdraw injured form the event last year. With a career high ranking of 39, the former British No.1 will be trying to replicate her 2015 grass court form, having come within two points of defeating world No.1 Serena Williams in a thrilling three-set encounter at Wimbledon.
The Aegon Open Nottingham will see two tournaments take place in June, the women’s WTA event taking place from 4-12 June 2016. Both tournaments will be an integral part of the British grass court season, which features 11 international grass-court tournaments in eight venues across the country.
Speaking on the announcement, Wozniacki said: “I’m delighted to be playing the Aegon Open Nottingham this summer. I have heard some great things about the event and the courts there. The grass court season is one of my favourite times of the year and the British fans always make a great atmosphere. It will be exciting to play this event for the first time and discover a new city.”
After confirming her place at the tournament, Heather Watson said: “I'm really happy that I will be coming to the Aegon Open Nottingham this summer. I was sorry to have to miss the event last year and I'm looking forward to starting my grass-court season there. Playing tennis in front of home fans is one of the best experiences in the game and I had some incredible moments on grass last year and want to do even better in 2016.”
The Aegon Open Nottingham (WTA) Tournament Director, Rebecca James, said: “Tennis fans in Nottingham have a lot to look forward to in the summer with Caroline Wozniacki becoming the second former world No. 1 to add her name to the Aegon Open line-up after Victoria Azarenka. It is further proof that some of the world’s best players see the courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre as the ideal place to hone their grass-court game ahead of The Championships, Wimbledon.
“The addition of Heather Watson is also a major coup for the tournament as there is always something special about seeing one of Britain’s top names in action on the grass ahead of Wimbledon.”
Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Head of Brand and Sponsorship Aegon UK, commented: “The Aegon Open Nottingham was a fantastic addition to the grass court calendar last year and we are delighted to welcome many stars from the WTA tour to the city to begin their grass court preparations. With a double Grand Slam champion in Victoria Azarenka already confirmed, we have no doubt the fans will have an amazing week in Nottingham.”
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Nottingham City Council said: “We are thrilled to have such a stellar line up of top women tennis players coming to Nottingham this June, and the staff at the Nottingham Tennis Centre are busy preparing the courts so they are in peak condition for the Aegon Open Nottingham WTA tournament.”
Fans still have time grab tickets to watch Watson and Wozniacki at the Aegon Open Nottingham at early bird prices, with the discounted offering expiring on Thursday, 28 April. Go to https://www.lta.org.uk/major-events/aegon-open-nottingham, or search ‘Aegon Open Nottingham’ for more details. Tickets start from just £5.
For information on the hospitality packages on offer at The Aegon Open Nottingham head to http://www.lta.org.uk/major-events/aegon-open-nottingham/nottingham-hospitality/ or contact Elliot Sheasby on aegonopen@lta.org.uk
This month the LTA announced exciting changes to the three week 2017 grass court tournament calendar. Nottingham will host a combined men’s and women’s tour-level tournament in the same week for the first time in 44 years. The pre-existing ATP 250 tournament will move back to Eastbourne, merging with the WTA Premier Aegon International to form a combined event (as it was from 2009-2014) featuring the following format: a 28-player main draw men’s event and 48-player main draw for the women staged across nine days. Other changes include a doubling of prize money at the Aegon Trophy Series (ATP Challenger & ITF Women’s Pro Circuit) creating the highest value circuit at this level in world tennis.