Tennis fans can watch some of the world’s top up-and-coming stars in action for free next week when the Aegon GB Pro-Series Event returns to the University of Bath for a tenth successive year.
Former Australian Open finalist Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut are among past winners of the week-long ITF Pro Circuit event, which is run by the LTA and starts on Sunday, November 8.
Big-serving Australian Sam Groth and Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut have also taken part in the men’s $15K tournament, while Carina Whitthoeft, Ana Konjuh and Tereza Smitkova – all currently ranked in the world’s top 100 – have competed in the ladies’ $25K event.
This year’s line-up once again sees a good blend of British and overseas players, with Romania’s Ana Bogdan heading the ladies’ acceptance list.
The 22-year-old, currently ranked at a career-high of 146, will be hoping to capture her third title this year having won $25K events in Romania and Bulgaria.
Leading the home challenge in the main draw are Tara Moore and Harriet Dart, while Team Bath MCTA’s Lisa Whybourn is among the Brits looking to progress through the qualifying round.
In the men’s event, 25-year-old Tom Kocevar-Desman of Slovenia is the highest-ranked player in the main draw and is also looking for his third title of 2015.
Ed Corrie (photo by Sam Farr
sam@combehay.net
for Matchtight)
“I am really looking forward to competing in Bath again,” he said. “I have lots of good memories of playing all different levels of events there and it is one of my favourite UK cities.”
Team Bath MCTA’s Richard Gabb and Toby Martin, who does his strength and conditioning training at the University, are also in the main draw.
Tournament director Julie Piper said: “I am delighted to be returning to the University of Bath for this professional event.
“The facilities here at the Sports Training Village are excellent and the support we get is second to none.
“We have been running events at the University for more than ten years and during that time we have seen many players go on to do bigger and better things.
“I am sure this year will be no different, so I would strongly urge spectators to come and support the players – you never know, you could be seeing a star of the future!”
Qualifying for the Aegon GB Pro-Series Bath tournament takes place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (November 8-10), followed by the main draw from Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15. Play is scheduled to start no later than 10am from Monday to Thursday (9-12), then 11am from Friday 13 to Sunday 15.
Entry for spectators is free of charge throughout the week.
Barry Scollo, Director of Tennis for Team Bath MCTA, said: “It’s great to have top-level tennis back in Bath for another year. It’s a real chance to see some of the best young players around and for our players to compete in front of a home crowd.
“The University of Bath remains a strong tournament venue for the LTA and ITF. Players love visiting here and competing here, and it’s always a pleasure to showcase the outstanding facilities we have here on the tennis programme.”
Live scoring will be available at www.lta.org.uk/agbps and the updated entry list can be found at itftennis.com/procircuit.
Pictured above Lisa Whybourn (left) and German partner Nicola Geuer after they won the ladies’ doubles title in 2013.
Report courtesy of Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight.
