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| How has Eastbourne become a major part of the tennis calendar? | How has Eastbourne become a major part of the tennis calendar? |
| (1 day later) | |
| In the week before Wimbledon, many of the world's best tennis players are eager to get some last minute competitive practice. But how has the quiet Sussex coastal town of Eastbourne become the place so many of them go to get it? | In the week before Wimbledon, many of the world's best tennis players are eager to get some last minute competitive practice. But how has the quiet Sussex coastal town of Eastbourne become the place so many of them go to get it? |
| Eastbourne has a population of about 100,000 people and is famous for the cliffs of Beachy Head, its sunny weather and high levels of retired people. | Eastbourne has a population of about 100,000 people and is famous for the cliffs of Beachy Head, its sunny weather and high levels of retired people. |
| But for the past four decades it has hosted one of the world's most important grass court tennis tournaments. | But for the past four decades it has hosted one of the world's most important grass court tennis tournaments. |
| The women's championship, first held in 1974, is rated as a "premier" tournament. Other WTA competitions with the same status are held in Sydney, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Moscow - all places with a slightly higher world profile than Eastbourne, however attractive the floral arrangements on its seafront may be. | The women's championship, first held in 1974, is rated as a "premier" tournament. Other WTA competitions with the same status are held in Sydney, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Moscow - all places with a slightly higher world profile than Eastbourne, however attractive the floral arrangements on its seafront may be. |
| Among the famous names who have held trophies aloft by the seaside are Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Caroline Wozniacki and current Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. | Among the famous names who have held trophies aloft by the seaside are Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Caroline Wozniacki and current Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. |
| So how has the relatively little town carved itself such an important role in the sporting calendar? | So how has the relatively little town carved itself such an important role in the sporting calendar? |
| Ken Pollock, chairman of the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, where the tournament is played, said: "It's an important venue because of the quality of the grass courts, the weather - it's known as the sunshine coast - and there's ample hotel accommodation. | Ken Pollock, chairman of the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, where the tournament is played, said: "It's an important venue because of the quality of the grass courts, the weather - it's known as the sunshine coast - and there's ample hotel accommodation. |
| "I go out to schools to talk about the tournament and I bill it as the "tennis town". There's nothing else like it in the country. | "I go out to schools to talk about the tournament and I bill it as the "tennis town". There's nothing else like it in the country. |
| "Eastbourne stands alone - there isn't another town which is just famous for its tennis. It marks it out as quite a remarkable place." | "Eastbourne stands alone - there isn't another town which is just famous for its tennis. It marks it out as quite a remarkable place." |
| British number three Johanna Konta, who lives in Eastbourne and is ranked 110th in the world, said "Obviously for me it's more special than for most of the players - it's one of the few chances I get to sleep in my own bed and eat my mum's cooking. | British number three Johanna Konta, who lives in Eastbourne and is ranked 110th in the world, said "Obviously for me it's more special than for most of the players - it's one of the few chances I get to sleep in my own bed and eat my mum's cooking. |
| "But other players find it a very nice tournament and that's why there are always some of the world's top players taking part, and why they keep coming back." | "But other players find it a very nice tournament and that's why there are always some of the world's top players taking part, and why they keep coming back." |
| Of course, Eastbourne is not the only small English town to host a major sporting event. The Derby is held in Epsom, the Open golf visits locations as obscure as Hoylake and Sandwich and Formula 1's British Grand Prix is held in Silverstone - population 2,176. | Of course, Eastbourne is not the only small English town to host a major sporting event. The Derby is held in Epsom, the Open golf visits locations as obscure as Hoylake and Sandwich and Formula 1's British Grand Prix is held in Silverstone - population 2,176. |
| But horse racing, golf and motor racing each have to be played in huge areas, meaning they are by nature more likely to be away from urban sprawl, unlike tennis - whose most famous homes are the grand slam venues of London, Paris, New York and Melbourne. | But horse racing, golf and motor racing each have to be played in huge areas, meaning they are by nature more likely to be away from urban sprawl, unlike tennis - whose most famous homes are the grand slam venues of London, Paris, New York and Melbourne. |
| "There are more glamorous locations on tour, but everyone seems to love a seaside resort and Eastbourne remains popular - despite the chilly wind that can blow through Devonshire Park on occasions," says Russell Fuller, the BBC's tennis correspondent. | "There are more glamorous locations on tour, but everyone seems to love a seaside resort and Eastbourne remains popular - despite the chilly wind that can blow through Devonshire Park on occasions," says Russell Fuller, the BBC's tennis correspondent. |
| "After up to a fortnight in Paris, and ahead of two weeks at Wimbledon, Eastbourne provides a pleasant respite to city life. | "After up to a fortnight in Paris, and ahead of two weeks at Wimbledon, Eastbourne provides a pleasant respite to city life. |
| "Fewer of the very top seeds opt to play a grass court warm up event these days, but it looks as if a healthy number of top 10 players will be in attendance once again." | "Fewer of the very top seeds opt to play a grass court warm up event these days, but it looks as if a healthy number of top 10 players will be in attendance once again." |
| Although the tournament in its current format dates back 40 years, tennis has been played at the venue for far longer. | Although the tournament in its current format dates back 40 years, tennis has been played at the venue for far longer. |
| Mr Pollock said the park opened on 1 July 1874 and he thinks the first championships was held there in 1881, with the tennis club starting about the same sort of time. | Mr Pollock said the park opened on 1 July 1874 and he thinks the first championships was held there in 1881, with the tennis club starting about the same sort of time. |
| "The current tournament came out of the South of England Lawn Tennis Championship, which was held down here in Eastbourne," he said. | "The current tournament came out of the South of England Lawn Tennis Championship, which was held down here in Eastbourne," he said. |
| "The likes of Fred Perry and Rene Lacoste and co would have taken part - it was quite a prestigious tournament." | "The likes of Fred Perry and Rene Lacoste and co would have taken part - it was quite a prestigious tournament." |
| The tournament has always attracted many of the world's top players. This year's event will see five of the women's top 10 players in action - previous winner, world number four and former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska is top seed. | The tournament has always attracted many of the world's top players. This year's event will see five of the women's top 10 players in action - previous winner, world number four and former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska is top seed. |
| Victoria Azarenka, twice Australian Open winner, is making her comeback from injury at Eastbourne and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, ranked sixth in the world, is also playing, along with seventh and ninth-ranked Jelena Jankovic and Angelique Kerber. | Victoria Azarenka, twice Australian Open winner, is making her comeback from injury at Eastbourne and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, ranked sixth in the world, is also playing, along with seventh and ninth-ranked Jelena Jankovic and Angelique Kerber. |
| Top seed in the men's tournament is world number 14 Richard Gasquet, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open. | Top seed in the men's tournament is world number 14 Richard Gasquet, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open. |
| Martina Navratilova, the most successful female player of all time, lifted the trophy in Eastbourne 11 times. | Martina Navratilova, the most successful female player of all time, lifted the trophy in Eastbourne 11 times. |
| Navratilova became so closely associated with the town she was awarded the freedom of Eastbourne in 2005, when she said: "I am deeply moved by such genuine kindness... and now I truly feel I am a part of such a noble community. | Navratilova became so closely associated with the town she was awarded the freedom of Eastbourne in 2005, when she said: "I am deeply moved by such genuine kindness... and now I truly feel I am a part of such a noble community. |
| "The appreciation is mutual. I appreciate Eastbourne, Eastbourne appreciates me and it's nice when it's symbiotic like that, it kind of makes you feel good." | "The appreciation is mutual. I appreciate Eastbourne, Eastbourne appreciates me and it's nice when it's symbiotic like that, it kind of makes you feel good." |
| She said the players walked around among the fans, who could also watch the top stars practise. | |
| "It's all right there, it's not so spread out. The players can interact with the fans and the kids and that's what it should be." | "It's all right there, it's not so spread out. The players can interact with the fans and the kids and that's what it should be." |
| Darren Weir, chairman of the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, said the tournament was a crucial event in the town's calendar. | Darren Weir, chairman of the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, said the tournament was a crucial event in the town's calendar. |
| "We all have guests that specifically stay for the tournament - my guest house is always full with spectators, and some of them have been coming for 20 years and book a year in advance. | "We all have guests that specifically stay for the tournament - my guest house is always full with spectators, and some of them have been coming for 20 years and book a year in advance. |
| "We also have to accommodate all the support staff, the catering workers, and the bigger hotels - the four and five star hotels - host the players and their entourages, if they have any. The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) tends to pick a hotel for the players. | "We also have to accommodate all the support staff, the catering workers, and the bigger hotels - the four and five star hotels - host the players and their entourages, if they have any. The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) tends to pick a hotel for the players. |
| "If you look around all the restaurants and bars benefit from it and shops fill their window display with tennis things - the town gets a tennis buzz." | "If you look around all the restaurants and bars benefit from it and shops fill their window display with tennis things - the town gets a tennis buzz." |