The world's top three female tennis aces will be coming to Eastbourne this month.

Nadia Petrova, ranked No.3, yesterday joined Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters in the draw for the Hastings Direct International Championships at Devonshire Park from June 19 to 24.

Others already on the star-studded entry list are Svetlana Kuznetsova, the former champion and ex-US Open title holder, Anastasia Myskina, who won the French Open two years ago, 2004 finalist Daniela Hantuchova, top-20 player Elena Likhovtseva and teenage sensations Tatiana Golovin and Anna Chakvetadze.

"It is the hottest entry we've had," said a tournament spokesperson.

It will mark the debut of red-hot Russian Petrova who has vaulted up the rankings this year behind No.1 Mauresmo and No.2 and defending champion Clijsters.

She is the only player to have won four WTA Tour titles this year. She took the Doha crown on hardcourt in February before consecutive triumphs on clay at Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin.

Petrova, 24 next Thursday, will view Eastbourne as a launching pad for Wimbledon where she hopes to better her 2005 run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals where she lost to Maria Sharapova.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01323 412000.