Eastbourne Tennis

Justine Henin and Andy Murray could both play at Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park next year as the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) confirm that they will merge the women’s and men’s international grass court events from 2009.

The LTA have announced that the International Women’s Open tennis championships held in Eastbourne since 1975 will stay and be joined from next summer by the men’s championships traditionally held in Nottingham. Two of the highest calibre international grass court events will be held in the town, with Eastbourne’s famous Devonshire Park attracting top tennis stars from around the world.

Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Cllr David Tutt said “This is really excellent news for Eastbourne and will confirm the town’s status as a top tennis venue, with a key British tennis event held here on the south coast. Taking place the week before Wimbledon, the tournament will attract huge media interest and world class players. This is a great boost to the town and its tourist economy and I am proud that Eastbourne has been chosen to stage two such major tennis events.”

A record 40,000 spectators turned up for last year’s International Women’s Open, which ended in a thrilling final between world number one Justine Henin and world number four Amelie Mauresmo. This top event at the Devonshire Park saw the best crowd numbers in the event’s 32-year history as Henin and Mauresmo, left tennis fans on tenterhooks as they played a tense tournament finale that lasted more than two and a half hours and saw Henin triumph.

More than 13,000 tickets have already been sold for this year’s tournament with the 2008 women’s event in Eastbourne looking set to match the success of last year. With news that the tournament will be boosted from 2009 by the men’s event, plans for the 2008 women’s tournament are boding well with ticket sales expected to soar. Tickets can be booked from Eastbourne Box Office on 01323 412000.

With the women’s event broadcast on national television and globally through Eurosport, attracting spectators from across the country and bringing nearly £10 million into the town, news that Eastbourne will now stage the men’s event will really boost the town’s economy. Hotels are always packed with almost half of spectators staying in the town for the duration of the tournament.

With the future of Eastbourne tennis now confirmed, Eastbourne Borough Council will be working closely with the LTA to make arrangements for the tournament merge next summer and are excited that Eastbourne is at the forefront of a major reshape of British tennis.

For more information telephone 01323 415556 or visit www.visiteastbourne.com or www.eastbourne-tennis.co.uk

23 April 2008