The Lawn Tennis Association is delighted to announce a unique sporting partnership with the Eastbourne Eagles speedway team during the Hastings Direct International Championships at Devonshire Park later this month (June 16-21).

Riders from the Eagles, one of the leading teams in speedway’s Elite league, will be visiting Devonshire Park at the start of the grass court tennis tournament. The Eagles, based at Arlington stadium in Eastbourne, have also invited leading players from the women’s tour (WTA) to their two home matches against Coventry and Oxford.

Gavin Fletcher, joint tournament director of the Hastings Direct International Championships, said: ‘We are looking forward to an exciting and mutually beneficial relationship with the Eastbourne Eagles.

‘Tennis and speedway are two forward-looking sports which are both keen to attract new audiences to their sports and build strong local community links in Eastbourne. We feel the presence of the Eagles at Devonshire Park will add a new dimension to this year’s event.’

For further information contact LTA Press Officer Chris Shaw on Tel 0207 381 7115 or 07971 141343.