Bouchard and Brits Moore, Murray, Burrage and Dunne
headline opening day of Nature Valley Classic qualifying
Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard faces a tough opening match as she attempts to qualify for the Nature Valley Classic, where play gets underway on Saturday at the Edgbaston Priory Club.
Bouchard takes on rising American star Caroline Dolehide in what marks the opening match of the 2018 tournament on the Ann Jones centre court. British wildcard Tara Moore is up against Kateryna Bonkarenko in the second match on the show court, before accomplished Italian Camilla Giorgi rounds off the day one action against Karumi Nara of Japan.
Moore, from London, is one of four British women granted wildcards into the qualifying draw. She is joined by Samantha Murray (Stockport), Jodie Burrage (Hindhead) and Katy Dunne (Hemel Hempstead).
Qualifying takes place over three rounds, played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The prize on offer for those who win all three matches is a place in the 32-player main singles draw, where qualifiers will join a host of tennis’ biggest names, including reigning Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza, World No.5 Elina Svitolina, World No.7 Karolina Pliskova, British No.1 Johanna Konta and two-time Wimbledon winner and defending Birmingham champion Petra Kvitova.
Tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s qualifying matches are available on the door for just £10.
Please find a full Order of Play and Qualifying Draw below.
NATURE VALLEY CLASSIC – BIRMINGHAM – BIRMINGHAM, UK
$871,028
June 18 – 24, 2018
ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
ANN JONES CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
Qualifying – C. Dolehide (USA) vs E. Bouchard (CAN)
Qualifying – [WC] T. Moore (GBR) vs K. Bondarenko (UKR)
Qualifying – [1] C. Giorgi (ITA) vs K. Nara (JPN)
COURT 1 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – F. Stollar (HUN) vs K. Ahn (USA)
Qualifying – [4] Kr. Pliskova (CZE) vs A. Cadantu (ROU)
Qualifying – [WC] S. Murray (GBR) vs O. Dodin (FRA)
Qualifying – [WC] K. Dunne (GBR) vs [8] N. Vikhlyantseva (RUS)
COURT 2 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [2] Y. Putintseva (KAZ) vs P. Hon (AUS)
Qualifying – F. Abanda (CAN) vs C. Perrin (SUI)
Qualifying – [WC] J. Burrage (GBR) vs B. Jovanovski Petrovic (SRB)
COURT 3 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [3] B. Pera (USA) vs V. Cepede Royg (PAR)
Qualifying – J. Pegula (USA) vs [7] V. Lapko (BLR)
Qualifying – T. Korpatsch (GER) vs [6] S. Vickery (USA)
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – D. Allertova (CZE) vs [5] J. Brady (USA)
Qualifying – S. Zhuk (RUS) vs S. Karatantcheva (BUL)
Qualifying – J. Paolini (ITA) vs D. Jakupovic (SLO)
Qualifying draw in full:
First Round
[1] C. Giorgi (ITA) vs. K. Nara (JPN)
[WC] S. Murray (GBR) vs. O. Dodin (FRA)
[WC] J. Burrage (GBR) vs. B. Jovanovski Petrovic (SRB)
[WC] K. Dunne (GBR) vs. [8] N. Vikhlyantseva (RUS)
[2] Y. Putintseva (KAZ) vs. P. Hon (AUS)
C. Dolehide (USA) vs. E. Bouchard (CAN)
F. Stollar (HUN) vs. K. Ahn (USA)
D. Allertova (CZE) vs. [5] J. Brady (USA)
[3] B. Pera (USA) vs. V. Cepede Royg (PAR)
[WC] T. Moore (GBR) vs. K. Bondarenko (UKR)
J. Paolini (ITA) vs. D. Jakupovic (SLO)
T. Korpatsch (GER) vs. [6] S. Vickery (USA)
[4] Kr. Pliskova (CZE) vs. A. Cadantu (ROU)
S. Zhuk (RUS) vs. S. Karatantcheva (BUL)
F. Abanda (CAN) vs. C. Perrin (SUI)
J. Pegula (USA) vs. [7] V. Lapko (BLR)
For more information on this year’s Nature Valley Classic and our other British Tennis events, please visit www.lta.org.uk/major-events. Limited tickets are still available to the Nature Valley Classic (16-24 June) and can be purchased online via www.theticketfactory.com/ltac/online/, by phone on 0844 581 4995 or from the box office onsite at the Edgbaston Priory Club, with tickets from £10.
FAST FACTS ABOUT 2018 NATURE VALLEY CLASSIC
LEVEL: Premier
CITY: BIRMINGHAM
COUNTRY: GREAT BRITAIN
TOTAL PRIZEMONEY: $871,028 (USD)
SINGLES CHAMPION RECEIVES: $163,085
DATE: Jun 18 – Jun 24, 2018 (qualifying 16-17 June)
SURFACE: Grass
BUY Tickets Today
Don’t miss out on your ticket to summer! Catch world-class players in action at one of the British Tennis events, formed of the Nature Valley Open, Nature Valley Classic, Nature Valley International, Fever-Tree Championships and Fuzion 100 Trophy Series. Secure your seat as tickets are selling fast. Book now at www.lta.org.uk/major-events
Topics: 10sballs, Birmingham, Edgbaston Priory Club, Genie Bouchard, Nature Valley Classic, Tennis, Wta