Cash predicts tournament growth

Cash believes the Liverpool International can attract the worlds best players

Former Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash believes court improvements made at the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament will attract better players.

The 43-year-old Australian has become a regular fixture at Calderstones Park and has witnessed the improvements made to centre-court.

He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "The top professional players want good pre-Wimbledon grass courts to play on.

"This should fit in really nicely to the schedule, and become even bigger."

Centre-Court was re-laid two years ago and has been fed consistently since.

Following last summers event Liverpool City Council fitted under-ground drainage in the area around the court.

The Outside Courts, on which the players practice, have also been fed and rolled to increase their quality.

Maybe for a change the LTA will decide to support this and there might be some bigger players Pat Cash

In the past Liverpool have relied on spotting talent early.

Novak Djokovic played at the tournament in 2005 and this year the Junior Australian Open Champion Bernard Tomic made his debut on grass at the event.

Cash has played in the Legends event in Calderstones Park for the last three years.

He added that the demise of Nottingham's tournament from next year could help Liverpool

He said: "This event seems to be doing well and maybe for a change the LTA will decide to support this and there might be some bigger players.

"But having said that, the relaxed attitude from the players will no longer be there because all of a sudden it starts getting serious."

On his tip for this years Wimbledon, Cash added that he feels it may be too soon to expect Andy Murray to end Britain's Grand Slam drought.

"Andy Murray is likely to be a danger player but I don't think he is a legitimate threat this year," said Cash.