Kim Clijsters today joined the star-studded line-up for Eastbourne next month.

The former world No. 1 will make her debut at the Hastings Direct Ladies Championships, which is poised to be one of the best ever staged at Devonshire Park.

This year the tournament will celebrate its 30th anniversary in style with Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo, Daniela Hantuchova and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova all entered for the event that runs from June 13 to 18.

Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) has won three Grand Slams, Amelie Mauresmo (France) is world No. 3 and Hantuchova (Slovakia) was runner-up to Kuznetsova (Russia) at Eastbourne last year.

Clijsters, who has been on the tour for six years, said: "I know it is going to be good preparation for Wimbledon which starts the following week.

"I've heard good things about Eastbourne from a lot of the players. They say the courts are well prepared and that sometimes they are better than Wimbledon's.

"They have mentioned how relaxing the town is so I'm looking forward to my first visit.

"I missed the whole of the grasscourt season because of injury last year and am motivated to do well."

Clijsters, from Belgium, will start as one of the favourites because she has a good grasscourt record.

She was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2003, reached the quarter-finals in 2001 and made the last 16 on her debut in 1999.

American Chandra Rubin, who won the tournament in 2002 and 2003, has also confirmed her entry.