Sunday, 18 May, 2008

Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli will join French compatriot Amelie Mauresmo and American veteran Lindsay Davenport to contest Eastbourne's International Women's Championship next month.

The news comes as a much-needed boost for the tournament following the shock retirement of two-time champion Justine Henin as she was mainly responsible for drawing sell-out crowds in recent years to the south-coast event.

But with Bartoli, Mauresmo and Davenport on board and three more high-profile entrants expected next week, the Lawn Tennis Association's Eastbourne tournament director Gavin Fletcher insisted: "This year is shaping up to be one of the strongest-ever fields."

Nadal earns first Hamburg title
Jankovic seals Rome crown
Blake makes bad start against Czechs
Rain postpones matches in Austria
Murray takes comfort from defeat
Davis Cup tie at Wimbledon
Sharapova to replace Henin at the top
Bartoli joins Eastbourne field
Henin announces retirement