Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki has been confirmed for the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, adding the Dane to an already star-studded field at the Edgbaston Priory Club. Wozniacki will begin her grass court season at the Aegon Open in Nottingham, before traveling to Birmingham to get ready for Wimbledon. The Dane will be making her first appearance in Birmingham, after usually beginning her grass season in Eastbourne at the Aegon International.
"I'm excited to be heading to the Aegon Classic Birmingham this year. It is a historic tournament on the calendar with a winners list that includes some of the best players the game has seen," said the two-time Grand Slam finalist.
An all-star field set for Birmingham
Joining Wozniacki at the WTA Premier event will be defending champion Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Madison Keys, and Lucie Safarova. Kerber, who took the title last year over Karolina Pliskova in a tight, three-set final, will return to defend her title, adding special intrigue to this year's tournament with a Grand Slam champion in the field.
Aegon Classic tournament director Patrick Hughesman said, "We're proud to say that the Aegon Classic Birmingham is now one of the most prestigious stops on the WTA tour and 2016 will see the tournament attract more world class players than ever before. It will be a fantastic day out for everyone coming to the Edgbaston Priory Club this June to watch the tennis and to cheer on the stars of the WTA."
Wozniacki's past grass court seasons
With Wimbledon being the only major Wozniacki has never gone beyond the fourth round at, the Dane will be looking to do extra well this grass season. In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2015, the former world number one reached the round of sixteen, but all four times falling short. Last year, the two-time US Open finalist made her fifth fourth round at the All England Club, with the Dane still looking for a career best finish at SW19.
Wozniacki has typically begun her grass court campaign in Eastbourne, where she won the title in 2009, before going onto Wimbledon. This year though, the Dane looks like she will play in Nottingham and then Birmingham, before skipping Eastbourne to get to Wimbledon early to practice on the grass. Last year, the Dane was forced to retire to eventual champion Belinda Bencic with a back injury in the semifinals.
Wozniacki's injury plagued clay season
After seeming to get back on the right track with encouraging aggressivity in Miami and hiring of a new coach in David Kotyza, the Dane has again hit another road block in the form of injury. After being forced to withdraw from Fed Cup, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome, and now Strasbourg due to an ankle injury, the former world number one will be going into Roland Garros with no matches this season on clay, her worst surface. The Dane will look to become healthy before the season's second major of the year, the French Open.