EASTBOURNE, June 24, 2018

Fans at the Nature Valley International are set to soak up the sun and world-class tennis with blockbuster first round clashes set to thrill the close to sell-out crowds at Devonshire Park this week.

In the women’s draw, 2016 Eastbourne champion Dominika Cibulkova will take on 2010 champion Ekaterina Makarova in the first round, while in the men’s draw three time Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will face off in round one for the chance to progress their respective comeback campaigns on Eastbourne’s lawns.

Katie Swan (photo: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA)

Women’s main draw action gets under way on Sunday with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova opening main draw proceedings on Centre Court against Sorana Cirstea.

Meanwhile British wild card recipient Katie Swan will get the Court No.1 action under way, taking on US-American Danielle Collins.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova is also in action on Sunday, facing Maria Sakkari for a place in the second round at the WTA Premier event.

Qualifying underway

Men’s qualifying at the Nature Valley International began on Saturday with Daniel Brands pulling off a shock victory against No.1 seed Jack Sock 6-4 7-6. The 30-year-old German fired five aces and broke the US-Americans serve two times to take on Alessandro Bega for a place in the main draw in the ATP World Tour 250 evetn.

There was better fortune for qualifying No.2 seed Alex De Minaur, who beat British wild card recipient Jonathan Gray 6-1 6-3. The Australian will face off with Matteo Viola for a main draw spot.

Women’s qualifying came to a conclusion on Saturday with No.10 seed Natalia Vikhlantayseva earning a main draw berth courtesy of a 6-1 6-2 win over Katy Dunne, and No.1 seed Yulia Putintseva beating No.8 seed Christina McHale to secure her place in the main draw.