Clijsters Relishing Eastbourne Grass
The Hastings Direct International Championships
14 - 19 June 2004
Former World No.1, Kim Clijsters' switch of allegiance from Tour event in
Rosmalen, the Netherlands to Eastbourne and the Hastings Direct International
Championships next month speaks volumes about the tournament, the town and
her own plans to win tennis's most prestigious title.
"I normally play in Holland at that time but I've heard a lot of great
compliments about the tournament (the Hastings Direct International
Championships) from the other players," said Clijsters this month.
"I just made the decision to play there, try and get a good preparation for
Wimbledon and do well in the tournament."
Having been a Rosmalen regular ever since she first stepped onto the Tour
some five years ago, Clijster's move to Eastbourne was helped by the
reputation of the Devonshire Park courts. Not only are they amongst the very
best in the world, surface for surface they are the closest in the world to
those at the All England Club.
"We try to keep the courts the same as Wimbledon because we want to attract
players to Eastbourne," said Devonshire Park's Ground Manager, Andy Bacon.
"We want them to know that they can make a smooth transition between the two
tournaments so we cut the grass to an identical length of eight millimetres."
Those details have not been lost on Clijsters.
"The more professional you can get going into a Grand Slam the better you
will play," she said. "Going to Eastbourne and knowing the courts are even
closer to Wimbledon than the ones in Holland is a good thing. It's good for
my preparation and hopefully I can get a good start at Eastbourne and make it
through to Wimbledon."
Having played on grass in England ever since her junior days, Clijsters is
more at home on the surface than any other.
"I really enjoy the grass, ever since I made the finals at the juniors of
Wimbledon. That was one of my biggest junior results and ever since I wanted
to come back and play the seniors and so I'm really looking to come back and
play on grass every year again. That's the season I always look forward to
the most.
Away from the action, Clijsters is hoping to experience the picturesque town
and the south coast.
"I've never been there but a few people have told me it is very nice at the
club and off the court there's a nice beach, so I'm looking forward to going
there and visiting a few things.
Bacon would no doubt also like to visit the beach but will not have the
opportunity until the tournament's last ball is struck on Saturday 19 June.
During the next three weeks his team will be working around the clock to
groom the courts into pristine condition ready for one of the strongest
Hastings Direct line-ups in recent years.
"We're a small team but I believe the courts are amongst the top three in the
world," he said. "Wimbledon, Queens and Eastbourne are the best in the world
and I have always felt that ours are actually better than Wimbledon's.
"So far the preparation has been good and we are all on track and going
according to plan. Now what we need is a little bit of rain before it hots up
in June."
The Hastings Direct International Championships return to Devonshire Park,
Eastbourne from Monday 14 to Saturday 19 June 2004. The qualifying event runs
from Saturday 12 to Monday 14 June 2004.
[24.05.04 - Report by Rob Eyton-Jones]
--
---禪心已作沾泥絮，莫向春風舞鷓鴣---
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.118.122.149
NED-BEL-LUX 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
