Monday, 14 April, 2008

This year's Nottingham Open will be the last in a major shake-up to the pre-Wimbledon tennis calendar.

The ATP event, won twice by Greg Rusedski, has struggled to attract star names recently and, from 2009, the men will join the established women's event in Eastbourne as they warm up for the grass season.

Jamie Murray claimed the 2007 doubles at Nottingham with Eric Butorac while Croatia's Ivo Karlovic won the singles title.

This year's event takes place from June 16-22.

Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper will reveal further details of the changes later on Wednesday.

In 2010, the location for the WTA Tour event currently held in Birmingham will be determined by a bidding process, with any venue meeting the criteria able to bid to host the event.

Draper said: "The new, co-ordinated calendar will help raise the profile of the sport nationally and enhance the experience for fans, players and spectators.

"We are confident that the changes will help to re-energise the calendar and open up the sport to a new audience as well as offering a better experience for existing fans.

"The bidding process in 2010 further opens up the calendar and means that new venues have the option of bidding to host world-class tennis."

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