Mauresmo to return to Eastbourne

Women’s world tennis number one Amelie Mauresmo has announced she will be returning to Eastbourne next month to play in the Hastings Direct International Championships as her final preparation for Wimbledon.

The 26-year-old, currently competing in the French Open, will find world number two and defending Eastbourne champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium among her opponents at Devonshire Park, which is also the venue for Great Britain’s Davis Cup clash with Israel from July 21 to 23.

Mauresmo went out in the second round last year but has had an impressive 2006 after winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in Melbourne. She then went on to collect two more titles in Paris (indoors) and Antwerp, taking her career singles crowns to 22.

In March, she regained her world number one status, which she last held back in September 2004.

Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova and Russian stars Svetlana Kuznetsova, Elena Likhovtseva and Anna Chakvetadze are other Eastbourne entrants.

Joint championship director Gavin Fletcher said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Amelie to the Hastings Direct International Championships as the current number one player in the world.

“It is fantastic to add another top-five player into the main draw with Kim Clijsters already confirmed.”