LUXURY car manufacturer Lexus are to be the title sponsors of the Ilkley Trophy, which is to be held at Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club from June 17-24.

The Japanese company have gone into partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association to become the Official Performance Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the governing body.

This means that Lexus will have naming rights for all 45 weeks of international and domestic competition in Britain, including the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments of which the Ilkley Trophy is an important part.

Lexus are also backing the British Tour, which has a tournament at Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club from July 31-August 5.

In addition, the national teams competing in the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and World Team Cup will be known as the Lexus Great Britain teams.

Also the LTA’s Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP), which is the highest level of support for players aged 16 to 24 who are deemed to have the best chance of reaching the upper tiers of the sport, will become the PSP, presented by Lexus.

LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said: “As the governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the LTA’s mission is to open up tennis and grow the game at grass-roots level, as well as to support the development of talented players to the top of the game.

“This is a significant partnership that incorporates many areas of our performance development, as well as engaging fans and participants.

“We’re delighted to have Lexus on board and look forward to kicking off the British grass-court season on Sunday[tomorrow] at the Lexus Surbiton Trophy.”

Chris Hayes, director of Lexus in the UK, said: “We’re honoured to be partnering with such a prestigious organisation to help foster up-and-coming British tennis talent and provide a clear pathway to future competition success, while showcasing the excitement and energy of the sport.

“The partnership was a natural step for the Lexus brand, and we look forward to showcasing our Lexus omotenashi hospitality and craftsmanship to British tennis fans throughout this season’s LTA events and towards the future.”

Tickets for the Ilkley Trophy are available from: https://tickets.lta.org.uk/content