Dodin Back to Shrewsbury to Defend Pro Series Title

Rising French tennis star Oceane Dodin has signalled her intent to defend her Aegon GB Pro-Series title in Shrewsbury later this month - while Croatian ace Donna Vekic, ranked just outside the world's top 100, has also entered the prestigious ITF event.

Exciting teenager Dodin, 19, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since emerging as the winner of the $25,000 event at The Shrewsbury Club last year. She was ranked 559 in the world at the time but has since rocketed to her current ranking of 144 having been as high as 116 last month. Dodin, from Lille, recently hit the headlines by beating former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic in the US Open in New York and reached the second round of both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year.

 

"It's great that Oceane is keen to come back to Shrewsbury and defend her title," said Dave Courteen, managing director of The Shrewsbury Club. "It shows just how much she enjoyed herself last year and it's always nice that players hold fond memories of Shrewsbury and appreciate what we do to make the tournament as special as possible.

"Oceane actually had to come through qualifying last year and ended up beating German Carina Witthoeft, who has since progressed to the world's top 50, in the final.

"Oceane impressed everyone who watched her play throughout the week she spent with us in Shrewsbury and it's no surprise she has since significantly climbed the world rankings."

Croatian star Vekic, currently ranked 109 in the world, has also entered the tournament which will take place at The Shrewsbury Club between November 14 and 21. Vekic, 19, has been ranked as high as 62 in the world and reached the third round of the French Open in Paris earlier this year.

A host of other players ranked in the world's top 200 have also indicated they are keen to compete in Shrewsbury while some of the best up and coming British players, headed by current British No 4, Katy Dunne, are also expected to take part.

Katie Swan, a talented 16-year-old from Bristol, could also be one to watch. Currently ranked sixth in the junior world rankings, she reached the junior final at this year's Australian Open and was also a quarter finalist at Junior Wimbledon.

Richard Joyner, the LTA tournament director for the Shrewsbury event, said local tennis fans can look forward to a feast of high quality tennis with admission free throughout the week at The Shrewsbury Club.

He added: "The line up, as is stands, is looking really good and it's great that a player of Donna Vekic's level, having been as high as 62 in the world recently, has indicated that she's keen to play in Shrewsbury.

"From a British point of view, it's exciting that some of the best young players in the country who have done so well internationally like Katie Swan will be playing.

"We're all really looking forward to the tournament. The hospitality and warm welcome we receive at The Shrewsbury Club is always fantastic. It again promises to be a really exciting tournament."