Ten time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams heads a strong entry list for this year’s Nottingham Open – the first of the returning LTA summer grass court events.

Williams is joined by 2017 champion Donna Vekic, two-time finalist Johanna Konta and British No.2 Heather Watson on the entry list for the WTA 250 level tournament that takes place 5-13 June at the Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Konta and Vekic are two of 13 players in the WTA Top 50 to have entered the competition – a list that also includes Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, American Alison Riske and Swiss world No.11 Belinda Bencic.

This year, the LTA has increased the singles main draw to 48, providing 16 additional main draw playing opportunities. Up to five wildcards are also available and will be announced in the coming weeks.

Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, will be playing the tournament for the first time. She reached the quarter final of the LTA’s Birmingham Classic event in 2019, losing out to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty. She also partnered Britain’s Harriet Dart in the doubles competition.

This will be Konta’s fifth appearance at the Nottingham Open and she will be hoping to go one better than runner-up finishes in both 2017 and 2018. Watson will also be playing the tournament for the fifth time.

Rebecca James, LTA Tournament Director for the Nottingham Open, said: “The Nottingham Open marks the much anticipated return of our summer grass court season, and to have such big names on the entry list for the WTA event just adds to that excitement. Even though all our events will look different this year, we are delighted to be bringing world class tennis back to Nottingham and are looking forward to starting the 2021 grass court season with a bang.”