IT IS early days in terms of entries but the signs so far are promising for the Aegon Ilkley Trophy, which is being held from June 17-25.

The prize-money for the ATP Men's Challenger has tripled to 127,000 euros, while the prize-money at the ITF Women's Futures, which runs alongside the men, has doubled to $100,000.

These increases should have a significant affect on the quality of players arriving at Stourton Road next month.

Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club's general manager Charlie Maunder knows that they may switch schedules over the next four weeks, but revealed at the tournament's press day yesterday: "The expectation is that last year's women's winner (Evgeniya) Rodina will be back, and that is only from the fact that she stayed with a member last year and has requested to stay (there) again.

"But she is in the French Open, so things could change, while on the men's side just about the only name that I can throw at you is Marcus Willis (world ranked 397).

"With his form from Wimbledon last year, it would be good to see him, but I don't know where he would fit in.

"It may be a wild card straight into the main draw or qualifying, but we will see how that works.

"Dudi Sela is also on the list at the moment, but we have another week to go."

Rodina is ranked 78 in the world on the WTA list, while Israeli Sela is 100 on the ATP list.

Willis, who caused a sensation at Wimbledon last year by firstly winning six matches to qualify with a world ranking of 772 and then by defeating Ricardas Barankis – ranked more than 700 places higher – in the first round to earn a match against Roger Federer.

If preparation is anything to go by, then the Aegon Ilkley Trophy should be fine.

With the noise of workmen laying the base for the expanded marquee outside, Maunder said: "We are ahead in our preparation for the first time, while last year we had building work that was so close to the tournament.

"Things have been ordered early and have come in and there hasn't really been any rush.

"There is a little bit of running around, but it looks nice and calm from the outside, and the idea is to have it running nice and calm from the inside."