AEGON International 2014 live on BBC & BT Sport

As Wimbledon 2014 looms large for the world’s top tennis players, Devonshire Park in Eastbourne provides the idyllic setting for the AEGON International, the final warm-up event, live on BBC Sport and BT Sport.

The welcoming and friendly atmosphere attracts some of the world’s top men and very best women tennis players who return year after year in a bid to lift the winner’s trophy and make their final preparations before The Championships at SW19, which begin the week after.

In recent years, stars like Grand Slam champions Kim Clijsters, 2009 Eastbourne champion Caroline Wozniacki and top 20 ATP players like Andy Roddick, James Blake and Feliciano Lopez have graced the courts and delivered world class competition that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

This year will be no different with the top seed in the women’s draw being two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian returns after missing the French Open due to injury and she will face strong competition at Eastbourne from the 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and rising American star Sloane Stephens.

Heather Watson and Johanna Konta have been awarded wild cards into the tournament, with Britain’s number one Watson having made a huge splash in her first appearance at the event in 2010, when ranked 344 in the world, she won through three rounds of qualifying before falling to Victoria Azarenka in the second round.

Currently ranked 110 in the world, this is Konta’s second main draw appearance at Devonshire Park, the 23-year-old falling in a tough first round match against Hsieh Su-Wei last year.

In the ATP draw, the last to be held at Eastbourne before the men’s event moves back to Nottingham next year, a host of top names competing include top seed Richard Gasquet, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Gilles Simon and Queen’s runner-up Feliciano Lopez, while British wildcards include Dan Evans, James Ward and Kyle Edmund.

Devonshire Park is Eastbourne’s oldest park and has hosted Lawn Tennis since the 1870s and over time, the park has been used as a local tennis centre, site for a number of Davis Cup ties and venue for the Eastbourne International event since its inception in 1974.

Featuring 13 courts and situated in the heart of Eastbourne surrounded by trees and gardens, the centre is only minutes away from the town centre and seafront, making it the ideal summer setting for this international tennis event, all weather permitting.

With Wimbledon 2014 just a week away, players will be hoping for a strong showing on the grass courts of Eastbourne and BBC Sport and BT Sport viewers will able to follow all the action throughout the week at Devonshire Park.

BBC Sport will screen daily live coverage of the AEGON International 2014 from Devonshire Park, from Tuesday to Saturday (June 17-21), on BBC Two and in high-definition on BBC Two HD.

John Inverdale presents the BBC’s output across all five days, with coverage primarily focusing on the women’s draw. Commentary will be provided by Chris Bradnam and former British number one Annabel Croft.

If play continues beyond the allotted time on BBC Two, then coverage will continue via the BBC Red Button, or, alternatively, viewers can watch BBC Two’s live coverage online and on mobile devices via the BBC Sport website and through the BBC Sport app and Connected TV.

BT Sport will screen live coverage of the AEGON International at Devonshire Park for the first time in 2014.

As part of a deal with the LTA, BT Sport is covering three of the UK’s showpiece summer grass court tournaments in the run up to Wimbledon 2014, taking over the pay-TV rights from British Eurosport.

BT Sport’s daily live coverage from Eastbourne will all air on BT Sport 2 and feature action from both the men’s and women’s draws.

Analysis and commentary will come from former British number one’s Sam Smith and Anne Keothavong, as well as tennis legend Martina Navratilova.

.

.

.

.