WITH Wimbledon just a week away sports fans on Merseyside can enjoy their very own taste of SW19 down at L18 from today.

With both men’s and women’s singles and doubles tournaments, plus a Legends event featuring John McEnroe, Liverpool International Tournament at Calderstones Park is going from strength to strength.

Around 2,000 school children from across the city where first to enjoy the sunshine, refreshments and competition of centre court yesterday.

An array of the all star line-up staged a series of exhibition matches to the delight of a young home crowd.

The final line-ups for the start of play today were also confirmed, with Norwegian Freddy Sletting-Johnsen defeating last year’s qualifier Simon Roberts, from Bolton in the men’s qualifying final.

He now joins local teenage prospect Chloe Murphy in the individual singles draw, who starts her campaign this morning but plays again on court number one tomorrow.

Mark Knowles, a grand slam doubles winner, steps in for injured Bryan brothers in the doubles event and also gets his tournament underway this evening.

Star ladies attraction Martina Hingis is due on centre court at 2.30pm both today, for the singles and tomorrow, in the mixed doubles.

Tickets are now available from the box office in Calderstones Park, as well as from Northern Vision’s dedicated website www.liverpooltennis.co.uk, Ticketmaster, the ECHO Arena and the 08 Place.