Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will make her debut at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham later this month. The tennis superstar has accepted a wildcard into the star-studded event, joining one of the strongest line-ups in the tournament’s history.
When the WTA Premier tournament main draw gets underway on 17 June, Williams will be competing for her 50th career singles title. She faces stiff competition from current world No.1 Naomi Osaka, newly-crowned Roland Garros champion and world No.2 Ashleigh Barty, defending Nature Valley Classic champion and two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, as well as in-form British No.1 Johanna Konta and a host of other top players.
Venus Williams said: “I’m really excited to be playing in Birmingham for the first time. I always love playing on grass in front of British crowds and have heard wonderful things about the tournament.”
Nature Valley Tournament Director Patrick Hughesman said: “We are delighted to welcome Venus to Birmingham. Having so many big stars playing this year gives us a great opportunity to open tennis up to a new audience. Venus is a tennis legend in her own lifetime and she’s also a fantastic role model, whose impact reaches well beyond the sport.”
The Nature Valley Classic, an LTA summer grass court event, will take place from 15-23 June at the Edgbaston Priory Club, just fifteen minutes from the city centre, and has a unique place in the history of sport in the Midlands. It is the most prestigious annual women’s sports event in the region. Every year it attracts some of the biggest stars in women’s tennis as they play for a trophy named after Birmingham’s first women’s Wimbledon champion, Maud Watson.
Garbiñe Muguruza has been forced to withdraw from this year’s tournament with a left leg injury.
Catch Venus courtside in Birmingham
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