World number 70 heads to Ilkley for GB Pro-Series tournament

The Czech has confirmed her entry into Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club’s annual pre-Wimbledon warm-up tournament, which runs from June 11-19.

Her season so far has seen her beat world number three Angelique Kerber at the Masters event in Indian Wells back in March - a first-tier WTA victory which was followed by defeat to British number one Johanna Konta.

Other players inside the top 150 who will compete at the GB Pro-Series grass-court event are China’s Kai-Lin Zhang, who appeared in the main singles draw of all four Grand Slams in 2015, and number 121 Evgeniya Rodina, a Russian who won five doubles titles on the professional circuit last year. Rising Russian star Irina Khromacheva, whose ranking has jumped from 240 to 131 in just a month, has also entered.

There are two more former top-100 players looking to make their way back up the rankings in Croatia’s Petra Martic, who has been as high as 49, and Taipei’s Kai-Chen Chang, Dutch Fed Cup team member Richel Hogenkamp will also play.

The women’s line-up complements a strong men’s field also featuring top-100 stars, and both sexes will play concurrently during tournament week at Ilkley. Several wild cards into the draw will also be awarded to up-and-coming British players.

The club’s general manager Charlie Maunder is excited to welcome the tennis talent to town.

“This year’s entry list brings a wealth of players from across the world, some new talent rising up through the rankings and more experienced players who are making their way back towards the top 100. Places in the tournament are still available for those coming through qualifying and I look forward to seeing which players will take those spots ready and willing to play for part of the €42.5k prize fund.”

This year Ilkley boasts an increased spectactor capacity, including extra Centre Court seats. 150 volunteers from across Yorkshire will run the event alongside 120 ball boys and girls from Ilkley Grammar School and the junior section. Many overseas players will be staying in club members’ homes and organisers have block-booked local hotels for the event.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.theticketfactory.com/ltaci/online/

Aegon Ilkley Trophy women’s main draw:-

Denisa ALLERTOVA (CZE) 70

Kai-Lin ZHANG (CHN) 117

Evgeniya RODINA (RUS) 121

Xinyun HAN (CHN) 125

Irina KHROMACHEVA (RUS) 131

Ying-Ying DUAN (CHN) 133

Richel HOGENKAMP (NED) 139

Maryna ZANEVSKA (UKR) 141

Luksika KUMKHUM (THA) 142

Yafan WANG (CHN) 143

Petra MARTIC (CRO) 145

Oceane DODIN (FRA) 148

Paula KANIA (POL) 150

Hiroko KUWATA (JPN) 152

Jessica PEGULA (USA) 154

Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO (POR) 154(P)

Tereza MRDEZA (CRO) 155 (P)

Amandine HESSE (FRA) (157)

Kai-Chen CHANG (TPE) 158

Ivana JOROVIC (SRB) 159

Lin ZHU (CHN) 162

Sachia VICKERY (USA) 165