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Marcus Willis among confirmed names for Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament 2017

Willis confirmed alongside Damir Dzumhur, Ana Bogdan, Natalya Vikhlyantseva, Guillermo Canas and Robert Kendrick for the International Tennis Tournament 2017.

At a press conference in Liverpool this morning, organisers and ambassadors for the Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament confirmed players for the forthcoming event, now in its sixteenth year.

“Marcus is a fantastic person and a great player in particular on grass and we very much look forward to have him in Liverpool,” says director Anders Borg. “I am sure we will organise a trip to Anfield for him during his stay in the city.”

Willis became the name of last year’s Wimbledon tournament when he met with Roger Federer on Centre Court following a defeat of Lithuanian Richardas Berankis.

“This is my first year competing in Liverpool but after my dream run at Wimbledon last year I believe Liverpool is the perfect place to kick off my 2017 grass court season,” Willis says.

“I have heard nothing but great things about the organisation and the way Anders runs things and I am very excited as a Liverpool fan to make my professional debut in Liverpool in front of world class sporting fans.”

Willis will be joined by last year’s winner Damir Dzumhur, who over the last year has beaten the likes of Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal.

Former Liverpool Champion Ana Bogdan will also take to the court, as well as up and coming 19 year old Natalya Vikhlyantseva, currently ranked 75 in the world.

Today’s announcement is completed by former world number 8 Guillermo Canas and former Liverpool finalist Robert Kendrick.

Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament is the largest and longest running exhibition in Europe.

Speaking at the launch event at Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel today, Ambassador Jamie Burdekin, who took a bronze medal home at last year’s Paralympics in Rio, said he was “proud and privileged” to be involved in the event. Confirming his retirement from wheelchair tennis, he added that he hopes that the event will inspire future generations to take up the sport.

The Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament runs from the 15 – 18 June 2017. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.