World-famous coach Nick Bollettieri is to attend this summer's Liverpool International tournament.
The grasscourt exhibition event is used as a warm-up for Wimbledon and takes place in June, when the American will attend the opening day. The 80-year-old will also stage tennis clinics and attend a school day to introduce children to the game.
Bollettieri has helped hone the careers of many champions, including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters. More recently he has worked with rising British star Heather Watson.
He said: "I am excited about coming to Liverpool for the first time and am looking forward to the tournament. I know there is a lot of raw talent in the region, and, who knows, we might even find a future champion."
Tournament director Anders Borg described the news as "an amazing coup".
"Nick is simply a legend of modern tennis and we cannot wait to welcome him to Liverpool," he added.
This year's tournament takes place from June 21-24. The player line-up is due to be announced on April 18.
Last year 2007 Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez completed his Wimbledon preparations at Calderstones Park, while former Wimbledon champions Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis were among those taking part in veterans' matches.
