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2009 AEGON International

«NEWS @Devonshire Park, Eastbourne

Always the first round is difficult to play.

Maria Kirilenko

Pre-tournament news

Ailing Ivanovic doubles up

Ana Ivanovic is set to make her maiden appearance at Devonshire Park this year in both the singles and the doubles.

The Serbian star has been given a wildcard into the Eastbourne doubles draw and will partner German Sabine Lisicki, ranked 180th in doubles.

Ivanovic is currently unranked at doubles as she has only played once at doubles on the Sosny Ericsson WTA Tour since the 2008 campaign. But the 21-year-old once reached a career-high doubles ranking of no50 in September 2006, after played tournaments with Russian Maria Kirilenko.

And Ivanovic slipped out of world's top 10 to no13 following her tame fourth round exit as a defending champion at Roland Garros.

She skipped the 2008 Eastbourne event due to a combination of injury and exhaustion following her French Open victory that propelled her to world no1.

But has long been touted as a future Wimbledon champion because Ivanovic's game is suited to grass. And she surprised even herself with a grand slam success on the clay courts of Roland Garros in 2008.

Ivanovic's best finish at Wimbledon has been a semi-final spot, although if she can capture the 2009 AEGON International at Devonshire Park will be a force to reckoned with at SW19. And having appointed a new coach, the popular player has looked sharper, fitter, stronger and more confident.

I'm looking forward to playing in Eastbourne, it's a very peaceful setting. It looks like the perfect place to prepare for Wimbledon. It's also a chance to win a prestigious title, I know that the tournament has great history.

But not all the top players opt for further match practice so close to Wimbledon, particularly as the clay court season has only just ended and Birmingham's Priory Club takes place the week before Eastbourne.

Magnificent seven sign up

Entrants for the 2009 AEGON International were initially revealed with seven talents boasting an excellent pedigree and each have a real chance of winning the tournament.

Three teenagers, two Russians and two Serbians are pencilled in to play at Devonshire Park this year.

Polish ace Agnieszka Radwanska makes it a hat-trick of appearances at Eastbourne and defends her 2008 crown. Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki are the other teenagers to enter, and have recently climbed into the world's top 10 with seven Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles between them since their Devonshire Park debuts.

The formidable Russian duo of Elena Dementieva (pictured) and Vera Zvonareva are due to return to Eastbourne. Both have been in red-hot form, regularly collecting 2009 singles titles on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour but fluffed their chances at Devonshire Park last year to make early exits. Zvonareva was named in May 2009 as a 'Promoter of Gender Equality' by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to became the fifth ambassador of the United Nations.

jelena jankovic Serbia's popular pair of Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic (pictured left) are also planning to play at Eastbourne.

Beauty Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion, only missed making her debut at Devonshire Park because of her sensational exploits at capturing the grand slam in Paris beforehand.

While Jankovic, who made a dismal star to the year, is back to her best with confidence much higher after winning the inaugural Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, Spain.

I'm looking forward to playing in Eastbourne. It looks like the perfect place to prepare for Wimbledon

Ana Ivanovic

Preview news

Radwanska defends
Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2008 International Open champion will be trying to retain her crown. The Polish ace was a shock winner, despite being the no4 seed, and eased into the final against Nadia Petrova. Radwanska's Devonshire Park debut in 2007 saw her thrashed by eventual winner Justine Henin.

Top Brits in draw
Anne Keothavong, the British No1 who this year broke into the world's top 50, has been given a wildcard into the main draw. This will be the fifth time that the 26-year-old had made the first round and said: "It's a perfect place to get matches before Wimbledon." Her compatriot Elena Baltacha has also been granted a wildcard and the 25-year-old said: "Eastbourne's my favourite tournament and I'm playing well enough to maybe rattle a few players."

Dokic misses qualifying | Jelena Dokic was spotted by practising at Devonshire Park on Tuesday and Friday before the tournament. But the 26-year-old Australian, who retired injured at the French Open and missed Birmingham's event because of the back injury, has not entered the qualifying rounds at singles at Eastbourne's 2009 AEGON International.

elena dementieva French Open champ returns | Svetlana Kuznetsova will be back as one of the four seeds to get an automatic bye in the opening round at Eastbourne after being given a wildcard. The solid Russian has not got a terrific record record at Wimbledon, having not got further than the quarter-finals in six attempts. And as top seed at 2008 Eastbourne was toppled by Caroline Wozniacki at the first hurdle. But the 23-year-old is brimming with confidence after claiming her second grand slam title in Paris following the 2004 US Open triumph and said: "I like Eastbourne and I'm looking forward to playing on the grass."

Ivanovic set for debut | Ana Ivanovic, the former world no1, is due to make her first ever appearance at the Eastbourne event - in the singles and doubles. The Serbian ace was due to compete at Devonshire Park last year, but finished as French Open champion so skipped the tournament because of a combination of exhaustion and injury. But this year Ivanovic is aiming to play and called Eastbourne "very peaceful". She added: "It looks like the perfect place to prepare for Wimbledon, I know that the tournament has great history."

Caroline Wozniacki Top 10 teenagers to take part | Belarussian Victoria Azarenka and great Dane Caroline Wozniacki (pictured left) are planning to return to Eastbourne after making their debuts at the 2008 International Open. But they will be back much stronger than last year as they are now in the world's top 10 and have bagged seven titles between them since playing in the 2008 event

Jankovic's joy of sets | Jelena Jankovic started had a torrid start to the year, ousted in her first showing in back-to-back events after playing long-fought matches. Her season finally got moving in the right direction when the Serbian captured the Andalucia Tennis Experience in Spain. The former world no1 was able to go to Marbella early after her shock exit at Miami, and by relaxing for a few days seemed to do the trick.

Red-hot Russians | The formidable Russian pair of Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva (pictured left) are set to return to Eastbourne. Both have failed to make much of an impression on Devonshire Park's Centre Court so far. But this season, having hit red-hot form with numerous titles between them, they are expected to be fully prepared and both are strong candidates to win the 2009 AEGON International.

Cavendish confirm top stars booked | With rumours rippling around Eastbourne town centre that a number of the world's top 10 players have provisionally booked into a first-class hotel for the AEGON International, Ashley Proctor, manager of the seafront Cavendish hotel, revealed: "We've already got all the top players staying here for the tournament so I don't want any Tom, Dick and Harry staying, otherwise I'll have to sort out more security!"