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2011 tournament news


 Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England | 11-18 June

Updated during the tournament.

singles news dates go to individual news pages
monday 13 June
 click here for monday news, draw & order of play
tuesday 14 June click here for tuesday news, draw & order of play
wednesday 15 June click here for wednesday news, draw & order of play
thursday 16 June click here for thursday news, draw & order of play
friday 17 June click here for friday news, draw & order of play
saturday 18 June click here for saturday news, draw & order of play

2011 pre-tournament news

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England | 11-18 June

British no2 james WardWard toughens up | James Ward (pictured), last year's British hero at Eastbourne, comes to Devonshire Park on the back of his best ever run after reaching his first ATP Tour semi-final. The Londoner is set to play seeded Janko Tipsarevic - a reader of philosophy whose tattoos contain quotes from Dostoevsky written in Japanese - in the opening round, but fears no-one after an impressive run at Queen's where he was halted by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga following wins over Stanislas Wawrinka and defending champion Sam Querrey. Ward said: “I've started working with a new fitness trainer - former cage fighter Diego Visotzky - to bulk up a bit and get more explosive around the court. He’s a little bit scary but he’s taught me a lot and given me a lot of discipline. He keeps getting me in headlocks, which is not nice!” Ward's run to the final four in London last week even attracted British premier David Cameron, and Ward beamed: "It's the best week of my career so far, hopefully it doesn't stop here as I never feel like giving up. You've just got to try and keep doing what's got you to that position, and in the end I got it done at Queen's. I'm really looking forward to playing on Centre Court at Devonshire Park again, and hopefully giving the great British fans something to cheer about. They were very supportive of me last year."

Philipp KohlschreiberKohlschreiber keen to impress | No8 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber won his third ATP Tour by capturing the Gerry Weber Open title at the expense of German compatriot Philipp Petzschner in Halle. Petzschner retired with back pain on the hour-mark whilst trailing 7-6 2-0. Kohlschreiber (pictured), whose previous title success was 2008 Auckland, said: “This was one of the best weeks of the year and of my career, the whole week went absolutely super for me - but I worked hard all week and played well.” Petzschner admitted: “It was a day to celebrate German tennis, but losing it in this way is disheartening.”

Eastbourne beachAll that glistens is not gold | Many local residents are fuming with the LTA over their latest tennis posters and flyers that airbrushes all the stones from its beach and replaces them with golden sands. Eastbourne councillor David Elkin explained: “The shingle is an iconic part of Eastbourne.” And an LTA spokesman admitted: “We wanted to create a buzz and it appears that we've done so.” Our team at EastbourneTennis.net have had to answer emails and texts asking whether the beach (pictured) is now sandy as they would holiday at the seaside resort rather than just turn up for the day.

Tsonga's set up for a first | Eastbourne's no1 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who saw off Rafael Nadal at Queen's and then ended battling Brit James Ward’s run with a 6-3, 7-6 success, is on the verge of winning his first ATP Tour grass title. The French ace, who won two Challenger tournaments on grass, admitted: “It was fantastic to win in two sets because in the third set, with the crowd with him, it would be difficult." Tsonga is draw to face Denis Istomin in the opening round at Devonshire Park.

Richard KraijeckKraijeck adds killer instinct | The 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Kraijeck, the only ever Dutch men's singles champion at SW19,  has joined the legendary Martina Navratilova and Spaniard Conchita Martinez to complete the line-up for the Legends Exhibition event at Eastbourne between 12-13 June. Kraijeck (pictured) joins Swiss Martina Hingis in the event that includes French flair master Henri Leconte and ex-British no1 Greg Rusedski.

Andy MurrayMurray misses Eastbourne | Andy Murray missed the chance to become a surprise wildcard at Eastbourne as tournament organisers at Queen's granted the world no4's request to a late start in London. The British no1 (pictured)  traditionally warms up for Wimbledon at Queen's but moaned: "It will be two days of practice and then you’re straight into the tournament. The balls are completely different from Roland Garros." However, Devonshire Park may not have been ideal preparation by the Scot, whose doting mother Judy took a swipe at the town of Eastbourne by calling it "sleepy".

Llodra loses cool | Michael Llodra, the 2010 Eastbourne champion, has narrowly avoided any action taken against him after a spat during his 1st Round defeat at Roland Garros. The French no22 seed received a warning after throwing a ball at a female security guard in the stands and had an argument with Moroccan umpire Mohamed El Jennati by fuming: "Do your job - we're not in a souq, we are not selling carpets in a market!" Llodra’s coach, Olivier Malcor said: "He probably used the word souq for brothel, because it was a real mess in the stands."

Lleyton HewittHewitt hope | Lleyton Hewitt, an ex-world no1, is aiming to prepare to win a second Wimbledon singles title by playing two grass court tournaments. The Australia has applied to play at the Gerry Weber Open (4-12 June) and in the AEGON International. Lleyton's recovery from a six-week lay-off due to a foot injury meant he didn't play at Roland Garros. Hewitt (right) is tennis' most prolific grasscourt winner in the game with 101 victories on the surface - including 2002 Wimbledon title and four crowns at Queen's Club trophies - beaten in the 4th Round at SW19 last year after winning at Halle. Hewitt said: We still have to listen to the advice of the doctors and physios.


Ex-Wimbledon champs out | Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic both pulled out of the Legends Exhibition Event at Devonshire Park on 12-13 June. Becker, the youngest-ever Wimbledon men's singles champion - aged 17 in 1985 - was set to join the only other fellow unseeded SW19 winner at Eastbourne. Ivansevic, who misses the event due to personal reasons, said: "I was looking forward to Eastbourne and I'm bitterly disappointed." Injured Becker said: "I'm very disappointed not to be able to take part, but recent surgery on my ankle has meant that I won't be able to take part this year - maybe next year."


2010 AEGON International 

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I know I can play well on grass, but you still have to do a job out there on the surface

- Michael Llodra