With Wimbledon just around the corner, the Rothesay International Eastbourne offers one last chance for the tour's top players to ready themselves on grass before the third major of the season. This year's edition will feature at least one welcome surprise, as 23-time major champion Serena Williams is set to play doubles with Ons Jabeur. It will be Williams' first tournament in nearly a year. 

Serena to return at Eastbourne; receives singles wild card at Wimbledon

Here's what you need to know about Eastbourne. 

When does the tournament start?

The Rothesay International is the second and final WTA 500 event of the grass-court season on the Hologic WTA Tour. The tournament is played at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne, England. It is a combined event with an ATP 250. The Slazenger Wimbledon ball will be used.

Main draw play begins on Sunday, June 19. 

Follow all the ATP and WTA Tour action!

FIND OUT MORE

When are the finals? 

The finals will all be played on Saturday, June 25. The Singles final will take place at 12:30 p.m. The doubles final will follow later in the day after the ATP singles final. 

Who are the projected top seeds?

1. Paula Badosa (WR No.3)
2. Ons Jabeur (WR No.4)
3. Maria Sakkari (WR No.6)
4. Karolina Pliskova (WR No.7)
5. Garbiñe Muguruza (WR No.10)
6. Coco Gauff (WR No.13)
7. Barbora Krejcikova (WR No.14)
8. Jelena Ostapenko (WR. No.16)

The last seeded player is No.16 seed Yulia Putintseva. The Top 16 seeds have byes into the second round. 

Update: Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff withdrew from the tournament after the draw was made. 

Who are the defending champions?

Jelena Ostapenko captured her first grass-court title in Eastbourne last year, defeating Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-3 in the final. 

In doubles, Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara beat Nicole Melichar and Demi Schuurs 6-1, 6-4 to win their fourth title of the season.

What does the draw look like?

For a full analysis, click here. 

What is the prize money and ranking points on offer?

First round: 1 point/$4,610
Second round: 30 points/$5,860 
Second round: 55 points/$9,200
Quarterfinalist: 100 points/$17,775
Semifinalist: 185 points/$36,200
Finalist: 305 points/$71,960
Champion: 470 points/$116,340

Key Storylines

Serena is back: The last time we saw Serena Williams on a tennis court was at Wimbledon last summer, where she was forced to retire due to a leg injury in her opening round against Aliaksandra Sasnovich. The 23-time major champion will return to competition in Eastbourne in doubles with Jabeur, with an eye toward preparing for her singles return at Wimbledon. 

Former champion Pliskova finding form: It's been a tough season for the big-serving Czech, who broke her arm during the off-season and has made just one semifinal this season. But Pliskova made great strides last week in Berlin, tallying wins over Kaia Kanepi and Bianca Andreescu before bowing out in two tight sets to Gauff. A finalist at Wimbledon last year, Pliskova could be one to watch over the next three weeks.

Badosa and Krejcikova ready for a crash course: Both women did well at Wimbledon last summer, making the Round of 16. After early exits from Roland Garros, Badosa and Krejcikova stayed on the sidelines to rest and prepare. Eastbourne will be their grass-court event before Wimbledon.