Heather Watson to play in first Nottingham WTA event

Heather Watson lost in three sets in her Fed Cup qualifier against Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay

British number one Heather Watson has confirmed she will begin her 2015 grass court season at Nottingham's inaugural WTA event in June.

The Aegon Open Nottingham takes place from 8-14 June during the three-week window between the French Open and the start of Wimbledon on 29 June.

"It's brilliant that we've got a brand new women's event in Britain before Wimbledon," said the world number 43.

"I love coming back to play on home soil every summer."

The 22-year-old reached the semi-finals in last year's Aegon International in Eastbourne but was knocked out in the second round of Wimbledon.

Watson, who secured her second WTA title when she won the Hobart International event in January, added: "The support from the home crowds for all of the British players is fantastic, which makes it extra special."

Having staged an ATP event between 1998 and 2008, Nottingham will be a WTA venue for the first time this year before the traditional women's grass court tournaments in Birmingham and Eastbourne.

An extra week was introduced in the 2015 schedule, allowing players more time to adjust to playing on grass following the end of the clay court season in Paris.

The week-long tournament in Nottingham gets under way on 8 June.