Attachment 14 Body: CABINET Date: 9 July 2008 Subject: EASTBOURNE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2009 Report Of: Director of Economy, Tourism & Environment Ward(s) All Purpose To update Cabinet of the outcome of the Lawn Tennis Associations Review and the combining of a Women’s and Men’s Eastbourne’s International Tennis tournament. Recommendation: Cabinet is recommended to note update. Contact: Adrian Ash, Interim Assistant Director of Economy, Tourism & Planning, Telephone 01323 415432 or internally on extension 5432.
[email protected] 1.0 Background 1.1 An International Women’s Open tennis tournament has been held at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne since 1975. 1.2 Since then it has grown into the biggest women’s tournament in Britain and is one of the top 30 tournaments in world tennis. 1.3 Its location Devonshire Park has had substantial investment to make it into a premier venue with a world class playing surface which also offers comfortable and modern spectator facilities and is the perfect setting for a day of great tennis for the whole family. 1.4 The event has attracted a plethora of overseas stars such as, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Lindsay Davenport, Anna Kournikova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and well known British stars such as Elena Baltacha, Sue Barker and Virginia Wade. 1.5 This event also provides a great opportunity for emerging young talent such as Agnieszka Radwanska who at 19 years old is ranked no. 15 in the world and returned to Eastbourne for the second year and Victoria Azarenko ranked no.