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The new darling called Ana

2009 AEGON International | 13-20 June

Ana Ivanovic will be a winner as far as popularity is concerned, but whether the former world no1 will be a big hit during Eastbourne's AEGON International remains to be seen.

The Serbian starlet has had a mixed 2009 campaign, and most disappointing for Ivanovic will have been the tame defence of her French Open crown that meant she did not even make it to the second week at Roland Garros.

Compatriot and fellow ex-world no1 Jelena Jankovic has also added her name to play at Devonshire Park, having been beaten on her 2005 debut.

With resurgent Russians, Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva, lined up to make a return to Eastbourne there seems a strong set of players filtering through. Both Russian stars have yet to win at Eastbourne, having stuttered to brief second round debut defeats on the English south coast in 2008.

And a trio of teenage stars are also returning to Devonshire Park, namely Victoria Azarenka, defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki.

Belarusian ace Victoria Azarenka heads this list after capturing three titles in 2009, including the so-called 'fifth grand slam' of the Sony Ericsson Open at Miami to add to successes at Brisbane and Memphis, which has moved her into the world's top 10.

Radwanska's form in 2008 propelled her into the world's top 10 for the first time, but this year the Polish star has suffered some outrageous defeats including a shocking performance on the clay courts at Warsaw prior to Roland Garros.

Wozniacki has recently climbed into the world's top 10 and is a grass court expert, with the 2006 Junior Wimbledon title to her credit and four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles within the past year.

But it is Ivanovic who is a terrific coup for the organisers, and the pretty Serbian star is purring about playing at Devonshire Park in order to instil some much-needed confidence. After being crowned 2008 French Open champion, which propelled the then 20-year-old to world no1, Ivanovic has struggled to make as much impact as expected.

But having reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and with a game suited to grass, Ivanovic has every chance of progressing at Eastbourne. She has yet to play at Devonshire Park, withdrawing from the 2008 event because of a combination of injury and exhaustion following her shock succes at Roland Garros.

"I've always thought that British tennis fans are among the best in the world, and I enjoy playing in front of them," she claimed. "I'm looking forward to playing in Eastbourne, it's a chance to win a prestigious title - I know that the tournament has great history."

serena williams But a strong field is confirmed at Eastbourne this year, although the Williams sisters are missing. The American icons have only played Eastbourne the once, and Serena (pictured right) is keen to get as many ranking points as possible to retain her no1 status from Russian Dinara Safina.

The Russian contingent has recently been the strongest set of players on the circuit with the usual splattering of French aces and stars from the Czech Republic. When Serena Williams quips "There's 12 Russians in the top 10", something is happening on the WTA Tour.

And Eastbourne 2009 welcomes a number of Russian stars, with all of last year's quartet returning. Nadia Petrova finished Eastbourne 2008 runner-up but is getting more selective about events, while Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva may have failed to impress at Devonshire Park last year but are currently enjoying red-hot form in 2009. While French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova arriving as a wildcard.

Seeded players

The top four seeded players do not have to get involved in the tournament until the second round, which is pencilled in for Wednesday 17 June. There are eight seeds overall, which will to be determined by the world rankings at the time of the draw.

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Elena Dementieva | No1 seed right-handed
Country: Russia | Born: 15/10/1981
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia | Height/Weight: 5-11/141

Svetlana Kuznetsova | No2 seed right-handed
Country: Russia | Born: 27/6/1985
Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia | Height/Weight: 5-8.5/161

Jelena Jankovic | No3 seed right-handed
Country: Serbia | Born: 28/2/1985
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia | Height/Weight: 5-9.5/130

Vera Zvonareva | No4 seed right-handed
Country: Russia | Born: 7/9/1984
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia | Height/Weight: 5-7.75/130

Victoria Azarenka | No5 seed right-handed
Country: Belarus | Born: 31/7/1989
Birthplace: Minsk, Belarus | Height/Weight: 5-10/132

Caroline Wozniacki | No6 seed right-handed
Country: Denmark | Born: 11/7/1990
Birthplace: Odense, Denmark | Height/Weight: 5-10/128

Nadia Petrova | No7 seed right-handed
Country: Russia | Born: 8/6/1982
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia | Height/Weight: 5-10.25/143

Agnieszka Radwanska | No8 seed right-handed
Country: Poland | Born: 6/3/1989
Birthplace: Krakow, Poland | Height/Weight: 5-8/123

Players in main draw


Elena Dementieva	Jelena Jankovic	Vera Zvonareva	Ana Ivanovic

Victoria Azarenka	Caroline Wozniacki	Nadia Petrova	Agnieszka Radwanska

Marion Bartoli	Jie Zheng	Amelie Mauresmo	Gisela Dulko

Anabel Medina Garrigues	Alize Cornet	Carla Suarez Navarro	Alisa Kleybanova

Aleksandra Wozniak	Na Li	Anna Chakvetadze	Sybille Bammer

Maria Kirilenko	Sam Stosur	Virginie Razzano	Ai Sugiyama

Svetlana Kuznetsova	Anne Keothavong	Elena Baltacha	Sabine Lisicki

Qualifier	Qualifier	Qualifier	Qualifier

List of entrants

Player details

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 | High

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, and did not put up much resistance in defending her French Open crown.
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

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 Priz 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

eastbournetennis.com

The new darling called Ana

Seeded players

Players in main draw

List of entrants

Player details