Former Wimbledon Semi-Finalist Heads Next Week's Aegon Pro Series Line Up

A former Wimbledon semi-finalist and a host of rising British stars will compete for honours when professional tennis makes a popular return to The Shrewsbury Club this weekend.

Players will start arriving on Friday and signing in on Saturday whilst Qualifying for the $10,000 Aegon Pro-Series women's tournament begins on Sunday. The action will continue throughout next week at the Club leading up to the singles final on Saturday, November 12.

There is free entry throughout to a tournament which plays a key part in the development of players on the road to stardom. Many of the players currently in the top 100 of women's world tennis - including No 1 Angelique Kerber - have played at The Shrewsbury Club in the past.

A new winner is guaranteed this time as French player Oceane Dodin, 20, champion at Shrewsbury for the last two years and now ranked 83 in the world, is not taking part. There is an exciting field of entry though amongst this year's entrants which include experienced American Alexandra Stevenson, 35, once ranked as high as 18 in the world and a Wimbledon semi-finalist. Stevenson went on a memorable run at SW19 in 1999 eventually losing in the last four to Lindsay Davenport.

The British challenge is headed by Cambridgeshire's Lisa Whybourn, while fellow Brits Sam Murray, Maia Lumsden and Manisha Foster will also be hopeful of success. There is local interest too with Lauren McMinn from Shrewsbury making it into qualifying and hoping to at least match her best ever Shrewsbury performance of 3 years ago when she made it into the first round of the event. Sadly the other local hopeful, Chloe Hughes, from Bettisfield, a member at The Shrewsbury Club and a regular member of the Shropshire ladies side, has had to withdraw with an injury.

Georgian Mariam Bolkvadze, now based in Middlesex, has won two $10,000 events this year in Sharm El Sheikh and Batumi while Ling Zhang, from Honk Kong, once ranked 184 in the world, Swiss player Tess Sugnaux, and Helene Scholsen, from Belgium, could be among the other leading contenders.

Julie Piper, the tournament director for the LTA, said she was delighted to be returning to Shrewsbury for an event which has built an impressive reputation.

She added: "Over the last few years we have seen many of the world’s top players cut their teeth on the club's courts who have then gone on to bigger and greater things, none more so than US Open champion and world No1 Angelique Kerber.

"I am sure this tournament will be no different and, who knows, you could be seeing a future Grand Slam winner."

Dave Courteen, the managing director of The Shrewsbury Club, said there was much excitement ahead of another Aegon week in the town.

He added: "It's a really exciting week here at the club. Everyone on the team really looks forward to it and our members really enjoy it. It's great to see such amazing tennis and clearly we're building a real legacy for players that play here that then go on to be in the world's top 10.

"It's nice to watch the up and coming British players and there's always plenty of quality players from overseas, a nice mix of young and more experienced players.

"The support the event receives from local people improves year on year which is fantastic and it's a chance to watch world class sport on your doorstep free of charge. Court-side seating will be in place from Thursday onwards to give an excellent view of the action while the earlier rounds can be enjoyed from the club's balcony. Food and drink will be available throughout the week and we look forward to welcoming lots of spectators."

The main draw, which begins next Tuesday morning, will be conducted at a civic reception to launch the tournament at University Centre Shrewsbury on Monday night. The Shropshire nominations for the Aegon British Tennis Awards will also be revealed at the event.