How the draw works
2009 AEGON International | 13-20 June
The
main draw comprises 32
players, which in the past has traditionally included byes for the top four seeds into the second
round.
There are eight seeded players in the singles draw and four qualifiers in the main draw.
Seeds tend to reflect the current world rankings at the time of the draw, which took place on Saturday 13 June 2009 - whilst the singles qualifying is taking place - for the inaugural AEGON International men's event at Eastbourne.
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Entrants in main draw
Players to watch
Elena Dementieva |
Russian world no4, went as high as no3 this year. She has won over $10m
in
prize money and won two titles this season. But the 2009 clay season
saw her beaten in the third round by Sam Stosur at Roland Garros,to
Amelie
Mauresmo at May's Madrid Open and by rising star Caroline
Wozniacki in the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, USA in April.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Jelena Jankovic | Serbian
world no5, who is one of five players to take over as world no1 since
Justine Henin retired from the sport in May 2008. After dismal start to
the season, an early visit to relax and train in Marbella did the trick
when she won the inaugural Andalucia Tennis Experience in Spain.
Reached quarter-finals at Madrid, Rome's Italian Open and Stuttgart as well as the fourth round at Roland Garros.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Svetlana Kutznetsova |
Russian ace who picked up the 2009 French Open title to add to her 2004
US Open success. Never reached further than the quarter-finals at
Wimbledon and was knocked out by Caroline Woznicki in her first match
at Eastbourne 2008. But the Russian, like many of her compatriots, has
been formidable in 2009 and climbed into the world's top five.CHANCE OF WINNING | High
Vera Zvonareva | Russian
world no6 who has collected titles this year to take her career
earnings past the $5m mark, including the BNP Paribas Open at Indian
Wells when she beat Ana Ivanovic in the final. Only played two
tournaments in past two months, beaten in the third round at both Charleston
and Miami's Sony Ericsson Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | High
Ana Ivanovic | Serbian
starlet who proves very popular to male and female fans. World no8 who
reached the top ranking in May 2008 after claiming her first grand slam
at Roland Garros. A new coach this year has tweaked her game, but she
has yet to win a title in 2009. After finishing runner-up to Vera
Zvonareva at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, was ousted in the
third round at both Miami's Sony Ericsson Open and the Italian Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | High
Victoria Azarenka | Belarussian
ace who recently broke into the world's top after winning the Sony
Ericsson Open in Miami, her third title of 2009. But slip-ups at
Stuttgart and Madrid proved costly to her world ranking although she bounced back by reaching the
semi-finals at the Italian Open. Currently ranked world no9 but
expected to continue to impress in her breakthrough year.CHANCE OF WINNING | Excellent
Caroline Wozniacki | The
great Dane is fast approaching the $1m mark for prize money on the WTA
Tour, and has climbed into the world's top 10 where she sits as world
no10. Prefers fast courts, especially grass. Has done exceptionally
well this season by winning the MPS Group Championships at Ponte Vedra
Beach in April, and finishing runner-up to world no1 Dinara Safina at
May's Madrid Open. But was easily beaten by Victoria Azarenka in the third
round of the Italian Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | Excellent
Nadia Petrova |
Powerful Russian who finished runner-up at 2008 Eastbourne. The
Polish-based veteran is hovering just outside the top 10 and is
currently ranked world no11. Has new appetite for the game, but the
clay season was unsuccessful with third round defeats at the Madrid
Open, the Italian Open and the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. And
suffered a thrilling three set reversal to compatriot Maria Sharaopova, on her comeback from a shoulder injury, in the
second round of the French Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Agnieszka Radwanska | The
defending champion at Eastbourne could actually find herself unseeded
as there is such a strong line-up. Has had a topsy-turvy 2009 and has
not won a tournament since lifting the International Women's Open
trophy at Devonshire Park in June 2008 as a teenager. But
quarter-finals at Stuttgart and the Italian Open in Rome prove that she has
the talent to be a top 10 regular, although a shock first round defeat
at the Madrid Open to Sam Stosur has left Radwanska languishing as the
world no12.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Marion Bartoli | The
French ace who first wowed at 2007 Wimbledon is fast approaching a higher
personal standard, despite only being ranked as world no13. Having picked up her
only title of 2009 at Mexico's Monterrey Open in March and finished
runner-up at Australia's Brisbane International in January, she has
been blowing hot and cold on clay but reached the quarter-final at
Stuttgart and the semi-final at Charleston's Family Circle. CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Jie Zheng | The
Chinese star is currently ranked at a career high of world no15 and
picked up her first title for almost three years when she won the Hong
Kong Victoria Park tournament in June. With her game suited to fast
courts, she has found clay a difficult surface to adapt to with her
best showing at the Italian Open in Rome when she fell at the third round
to Dinara Safina.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Amelie Mauresmo |
The former world no1 and an ex-Eastbourne champion, has has some
magnificent matches this season but on the grander stages has
surprisingly succumbed. In February won the Open Gaz de France on home
soil in Paris. But suffered shock first round exits at the French Open
and Italian Open having reached the semi-final stage at the Madrid Open,
where the French veteran and crowd favourite was beaten by Caroline
Wozniacki.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Anabel Medina Garrigues |
The Spanish star stands as world no20 and captured May's Grand Prix de
SAR La Princesses Lalla Meryem in Fes, Morocco. But since then has
suffered two first round exits and a pair of second round defeats
including a poor performance at Roland Garros against France's Virginie
Razzano.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Alize Cornet | Highly-rated
French ace who almost broke into the world's top 10 in 2008 during a
very successful season. But currently sits as world no21 as woefully
out of form. Progress on clay has been poor, with first round exits at
Barcelona, Stuttgart and Madrid plus second round defeats in the French
Open and Italian Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Carla Suarez Navarro |
Determined Spanish star who stands at a career high of world no22, and
excelled to finish runner-up to Jelena Jankovic at April's Andalucia
Tennis Experience in Marbella - her first WTA Tour final. Reached the
quarter-finals at Barcelona but tough draws meant early exits at Madrid,
Rome's Italian Open and Stuttgart.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Alisa Kleybanova | One
of numerous Russians who are powering their way up the world rankings,
and is the current world no23. The tenacious teenager registered some
sublime results to make impressive progress on clay by reaching the
semi-final stage at Fes in Morocco, the fourth round at Miami's Sony
Ericsson Open and the third round at the Madrid Open. But seems to
choke on the big stage, following shock first round defeats at
both the French Open and Italian Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Aleksandra Wozniak |
The glamorous Canadian stands at a career high of world no24, and
finishing runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki at April's MPS Group
Championships at Ponte Verde Beach has been her highlight of 2009.
Captured the 2008 Bank of the West Class tournament in Stanford, USA,
but has been unimpressive during the clay season with a string of first
and second round defeats, so should be suitably rested to make an
impression on her Eastbourne debut.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Na Li | The
Chinese ace last won a WTA Tour event in January 2008 but did finish
as runner-up to Marion Bartoli at March's Monterrey Open in Mexico.
Currently ranked world no25, her game is suited to fast courts and she
gave the then world no1 Serena Williams a scare in their Sony Ericcson
Open quarter-final encounter in Miami before Williams stepped up a
gear. Has been given some tough draws on clay and,
apart from the French Open, has failed to win back-to-back matches on
the WTA Tour until breezing to the final at the 2009 AEGON Classio at
Edgbaston's Priory Club.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Anna Chakvetadze | Russian
star who makes Eastbourne debut and has excellent record against most
of the big guns on the WTA Tour. Could be the joker in the pack at
Devonshire Park despite her world ranking of no26 as the 22-year-old
ace was once the world no5, and may cause quite a few upsets. Finished
runner-up to Venus Williams at January's Hong Kong Victoria Park
tournament, who also got the better of her in the third round of Rome's Italian
Open. Chakvetadze was knocked out of Miami's Sony Ericsson Open by
eventual champion Victoria Azarenka, but suffered shock first round
exits at Stuttgart and Roland Garros.CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Sybille Bammer |
Austrian star and mother of one who has a penchant for playing at
Eastbourne. Stands at world no29 but has previously broken into the world's top 20.
Her last title was the 2007 Pattaya Women's Open in Thailand, and the
veteran plays plenty of tournaments but simply makes the numbers up.
Although she did have a fantastic run at March's BNP Paribas in Indian
Wells, but retired from the quarter-final clash planned against
Ana Ivanovic. Since then has not progressed beyond the second round on any of the WTA Tour events.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Sam Stosur | The
Australian ace has successfully turned her attention to singles after
being so formidable at doubles, and she was the surprise package at 2008
Eastbourne. Stosur continued her rich vein of form by winning the 2008
Hansol Korea Open in Seoul. A quarter-finalist at Miami's Sony
Ericsson Open and a decent run at the French Open prove that she is a
dangerous floater that the seeds will wish to avoid, especially
Eastbourne defending champion Agneiszka Radwanska who was beaten by
Stosur in the opening round of Rome's Italian Open.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Gisela Dulko | The
Argentinian beauty made an impressive start to 2009 by finishing
runner-up at Hong Kong and Bogota. And quarter-finalist at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
in Stuttgart lifted the 23-year-old back into the world's top 20. But a
third round exit at the French Open and a second round defeat in the
Italian Open added to a first round reversal in Madrid prove that
Dulko's game remains extremely vulnerable.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Virginie Razzano |
The French star shone at February's Barclays Dubai Championships,
beaten in the final by Venus Williams. Is in reasonable form,
having progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Family Circle Cup
in Charleston. But suffered second round exits at the French Open,
the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. Not much of a threat overall but a
great reader of the Russian tactics and could cause problems for the seeds.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Ai Sugiyama |
Japan's top player is the world's current no37 and a veteran of the
sport aged 34. Did reach the dizzy heights of world no8 at the top of
her game in 2003-04 and has earned almost $8m in career prize money.
But not won a singles match in the past seven WTA Tour events, so is
merely making up the numbers and collecting the money.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Maria Kirilenko |
The stunning Russian, once a regular in the world's top 20, has slipped
out of the top 50 following tame performances to bounce out in the
first round at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham, the French Open and the
Madrid Masters meaning that the pretty 22-year-old arrives at
Eastbourne having not won a singles match for over a month. Finished
runner-up in April's Barcelona Open and made the quarter-finals at
May's Estoril Open so no fool. Needs a favourable draw in order to
progress. CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Sabine Lisicki | Pretty German teenager who won her first title at the 2008 Tashkent
Open in Uzbekistan and finished runner-up at the 2009 Charleston clay
court tournament. But is ever improving although arrives at Eastbourne
following some very mixed performances that have resulted in a first
round exit at Roland Garros, quarter-finals at the Estroil Open and a
second round defeat in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable
Anne Keothavong | Britain's
top player has broken into the world's top 50 in 2009 and returns for
her fifth shot in the main draw at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park. Had an
impressive clay court campaign by reaching the semi-finals of the
Warsaw Open despite first round exits at the French Open and Italian
Open. Only picked up one victory in the singles on the grass courts at
Edgbaston's Priory.CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely
Elena Baltacha |
Britain's no2 player made it past the opening rounds at the 2009
Australian Open and the grass court tournament at Birmingham. But the
25-year-old normally has to enter the qualifying at most events,
including Eastbourne where her best progress was into the second round
at 2007. CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely