EASTBOURNE, England (AP) Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt will be joined by 11 of the world's top 50 players in next month's grass court Eastbourne International.
Defending champion Michael Llodra and fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also playing in the tournament, which comes between Queen's and Wimbledon in the short grass court season.
The 30-year-old Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002 but is now ranked No. 66 after a series of injuries, says ``it's a great opportunity for me to prepare for Wimbledon.''
Llodra beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain in straight sets in last year's final at Eastbourne.
The tournament, which also features a women's competition, will be held June 12-18.