BRADFORD’S Jayanne Palma is one of the leading lights in next week’s British Tour women’s singles event at Ilkley.
The 16-year-old Heaton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club member is heading the Yorkshire entry alongside Hull’s Megan Hopton.
Palma lost 6-1, 6-3 in the last 16 of the British Tour event at Graves, Sheffield between Christmas and new year in 2018.
Hopton, meanwhile, is returning after her freshman year at the University of Tulsa, where she won 19 of her 30 singles playing at No 4 or No 5, and eight of her 18 doubles.
The 19-year-old from Hull reached the quarter-finals at Ilkley last year, but will face a stiff challenge from, among others, Elizabeth Massie (Warwickshire), who was a semi-finalist at Graves and, post-Wimbledon, at Felixstowe.
Heading the men’s field is 37-year-old Omar Alawadhi, who has represented the United Arab Emirates in the Davis Cup.
Jan Dyl and Vishnu Panikkar are leading the Yorkshire entry but there is also a strong presence from Durham and Cleveland via Callum Todd, Luke Laws, Harry Cookson and Matthew Ireland.
Play starts on Monday and finishes on Saturday, and also incorporates men’s and women’s doubles, junior events from under-eights to under-18s, veterans’ events and handicap events.
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