"French Open" Star Vaidisova to play in Hastings
Direct International Championships
Rising Czech star Nicole Vaidisova is the latest tennis sensation
to join the star studded line-up of players at the Hastings
Direct International Championships in Eastbourne from 17-24
June
The 17 year old will be hoping to continue her remarkable
run at the French Open this year after successive wins against
world number one Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals followed
by former world number one Venus Williams today, to reach
her first ever grand slam semi final. She will now face Svetlana
Kuznetsova, who will also be at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne
for a place in the final.
In 2004, Nicole became the sixth youngest singles champion
in Tour history when at the age of 15 years and three months
she won a title at Vancouver, defeating four of the top five
seeds along the way. 2005 was another breakthrough year highlighted
by a three tournament winning streak and a career high ranking
of number fifteen by the end of the season. This year the
young star reached the fourth round at the Australian Open
losing to eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo and, in the build
up to the French Open won the Strasbourg event taking her
total career singles titles to an impressive six.
Tournament Director Gavin Fletcher said: “It’s
hugely exciting to be able to announce that Nicole Vaidisova
will be playing at the Hastings Direct International Championships.
She is a young player who has already shown enormous potential
on the Tour and is clearly playing some of the best tennis
of her career. She will pose a threat to the likes of Amelie
Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne here in
Eastbourne and highlights the reputation of the event as one
of the most prestigious on the women’s tour.”
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