Tournament could grow despite downgrade - director

Rebecca James said she first watched tennis at Devonshire Park when she was seven years old

Eastbourne's annual tennis tournament is "going to remain the same or get bigger and better" despite being downgraded, a Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) director has said.

From 2025, the women's event at Devonshire Park will face greater limitations on who can enter, including the number of top-ranked players.

LTA tournament director Rebecca James said of the five Grand Slam single champions competing in 2024, four would still be eligible in 2025.

"The players love coming down to be by the sea," she said.

Martina Navratilova won 11 singles titles in Eastbourne

Despite Ms James' confidence, concerns had been raised locally about the downgrade's future impact on Eastbourne's economy.

Caroline Ansell, who was Eastbourne MP before the dissolution of Parliament, said the change would be "challenging".

The 2024 tournament has brought in players such as world number four and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu.

In the past, tennis legends such as Virginia Wade, Billie Jean King, and Martina Navratilova have also competed on the south coast.

Ms James said she still thought the opportunity was there for Eastbourne to attract top names ahead of Wimbledon due to its proximity to the Grand Slam, the quality of its courts and its "awesome" facilities.

'Inspire'

The tournament director said: "We want all of the players that are eligible to play here to want to come to Eastbourne.

"This year [and] the preceding years of their experience in Eastbourne will stand us in very good stead for attracting the best possible players."

Ms James said she was "inspired" after first watching tennis at Devonshire Park when she was seven years old.

"Ultimately through this event, that's what we want to do... we really want to inspire everybody to pick up a racket."

The tournament started on Saturday and will run until 29 June.