Eastbourne To Welcome Elite County Tennis Players For The Return Of County Week

18th July 2023

By the Lawn Tennis Association

Eastbourne will take centre stage again as one of the oldest competitions in the British tennis calendar takes place next week with the return of the 127th LTA Summer County Cup.

First played in 1895, County Week is one of the sport’s longest-running tournaments, and from Monday 24 to Friday 28 July, no less than 44 counties across seven groups will compete at 13 grass court venues up and down the country for this much loved Event.

Once again Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park will host all premier Group 1 matches in the competition. The traditional home of the event will witness six women’s and six men’s teams battle it out for 2023 County Cup honours.

Following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the pandemic, this year’s tournament is very much back to normal and, as with all County Cup venues, there will be free admission for spectators at Devonshire Park, providing an opportunity to watch top-level players take part in a domestic, nationwide competition that has been graced by some of the most recognised names in British tennis including US Open champion and former Kent player, Emma Raducanu.

In addition, Harriet Dart (Middlesex), Jodie Burrage (Surrey), Ryan Peniston (Essex), Jack Draper (Surrey), Joe Salisbury (Surrey) and Dan Evans (Warwickshire) were all regulars on the County Cup circuit before their careers took off. Preceding that, Andy, Jamie and Judy Murray, Sue Barker and Tim Henman also represented their counties in this prestigious competition, as well as British No.1 doubles player, Alicia Barnett, who has been nominated to play for Gloucestershire at The East Gloucestershire Club, Cheltenham.

County teams are organised into seven women’s groups and seven men’s groups, with teams for each tie consisting of three doubles pairs. This year will once again see over 200 ties and almost 2,000 rubbers played during the week, as 44 counties across Great Britain go head-to-head to earn promotion and avoid relegation from their respective groups.

Hertfordshire are the reigning men's champions after clinching the 2022 trophy, while Hertfordshire Ladies defeated Hampshire & IOW on the final day to win the women’s event and will be going in search of a hat-trick of tournament victories. On the men’s side, Surrey and Suffolk make a welcome return to the Group One event, and on the ladies’ side, Leicestershire return after a two-year absence. However, more remarkable is Nottinghamshire, whose ladies’ team are in the elite group for the first time in the county’s history.

LTA Tournament Director Julie Piper said: “We are once again excited to be returning to Eastbourne to the fantastic courts at Devonshire Park. The players all feel a great sense of pride representing their County and play with incredible passion in front of the watching crowds.

“There is always a great atmosphere which is part of what makes this event such a special part of the tennis calendar.  It’s free to attend and we’d love to see as many local people as possible come along to support the players and witness hard-fought, competitive tennis.  There is easy access to viewing and catering is available on-site.”

The Group 1 event at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne is the pinnacle of ’County Week’, with a further 12 grass court venues around the country staging events for Groups 2 – 7 in each of the men’s and women’s events. The leading two counties in each group earn promotion to the group above them for the 2024 competition, with the bottom two counties relegated to the group below.

Play will get underway no later than 10.30am each day (weather permitting) and entry is free for all.  For more information, including the draws and orders of play, head to the LTA County Cup website.