Surbiton_Trophy_Programme_2017

that have played here are Fred Perry, Stefan Edberg,
Pat Cash, Jim Courier, Tim Henman, Boris Becker,
Michael Chang, Andy Roddick and Roger Federer.
From June 11th to 18th, the series moves to The
Northern Lawn Tennis Club in South Manchester
where its seven grass courts (two protected from
rain by inflatable covers, and a further two with
flat covers) will host an ITF women’s tournament.
Like Surbiton, The Northern Lawn Tennis Club
was also established in 1881. In its time it has
been graced by many of the world’s greatest
players and has hosted major Davis Cup ties. The
legendary Pete Sampras won his very first grass
court tournament here in 1990. Last year this
tournament won the ‘event of the year’ category
at the annual Manchester Sports Awards. “The
quality of the club’s grass courts have often found
it referred to as ‘the Wimbledon of the North’,” the
LTA website states.
During the same week as Manchester there is
a men’s ATP Challenger at Nottingham Tennis
Centre. (A WTA tournament runs alongside this
but is separate to the Aegon Trophy Series.) With its
13 courts, this venue near the city’s university has
hosted some of the world’s very best players during
its history, both in ATP and Davis Cup events.
From June 17th to 25th the series then moves
north to Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club. Here,
the Aegon Ilkley Trophy includes a women’s ITF
tournament and a men’s ATP Challenger. As well
as its 12 grass courts, the club has a new clubhouse
and fitness suite, opened last year as part of a £2.5
million investment programme. Ilkley also won
Bradford Metropolitan Event of the Year for 2016.
“Established in 1880, the club occupies a unique
location by the River Wharfe in very picturesque
surroundings looking up to the panoramic
backdrop of the world-famous Ilkley Moor,”
states the LTA website. “Ilkley is a jewel of the
North, situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales
AEGON TROPHY SERIES
“We want to jump-start the important
summer season of participation by
trying to own the month of June,” says
Michael Downey, CEO of the Lawn Tennis
Association. “[There is] an extensive and
high-quality series of major tennis events to
help inspire more people to pick up a racket
and play tennis.”
June 3-11
Aegon Surbiton Trophy (men’s and women’s)
Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club, Surbiton,
KT5 8JT
June 11-18
Aegon Manchester Trophy (women’s)
The Northern Lawn Tennis Club, West
Didsbury, M20 3YA
June 10-18
Aegon Open Nottingham (men’s)
Nottingham Tennis Centre, Nottingham, NG7
2QH
June 17-25
Aegon Ilkley Trophy (men’s and women’s)
Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, Ilkley,
LS29 9BG
June 27-30
Aegon Southsea Trophy (women’s)
Canoe Lake Leisure, Southsea, PO4 9RG
National Park. If you think Wimbledon village and
put it on the edge of beautiful countryside with
a true Yorkshire welcome, you will be imagining
Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club.”
The final series tournament, staged the week
before Wimbledon starts, is the Aegon Southsea
Trophy. It’s an ITF women’s event at a new venue
in the Hampshire town of Southsea called Canoe
Lake Leisure. There are 10 new grass courts here,
as well as a brand new pavilion. Unlike the other
four tournaments in the series, Southsea is free for
spectators to attend. Ticket sales across the series
as a whole are very healthy. Last year saw 5,200
ticket sales, and Donnelly says that this year will
substantially eclipse that figure.
“I’m excited about the interest these events are
having on a local level,” he says. “I’m confident of
sell-out days at a number of events.”
For information, visit www.lta.org.uk/
major-events/aegon-trophy-series
www.LTA.org.uk/aegonsurbitontrophy @SurbitonTrophy 19