Martina Navratilova will make her singles comeback at Eastbourne at the age of 45.

The 11-times champion at the Sussex event has accepted a wild card into the main draw for next week's Britannic Asset Management Championships after Jennifer Capriati turned one down.

Navratilova, entered for the doubles with Natasha Zvereva, has not played singles on the main tour for six years.

Navratilova declared: "I feel like I've come home when I play Eastbourne."

Tournament director John Fever was delighted the nine-times Wimbledon champion will be playing a tournament hit by the withdrawl of top seeds Lindsay Davenport and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

He said: "I spoke with Martina the other day about the possibility of her playing but I told her that we were trying to get Jennifer first.

"She accepted the situation.

"She has kept herself fit and still plays lots of doubles on the tour and I'm sure her Eastbourne fans will love to see her play singles again."

Fever admitted attempts to persuade former Eastbourne champion Monica Seles to play failed. The two other wild cards issued went to Anna Kournakova and Mary Pierce.

The main draw will be made this afternoon.