The event will be staged by e|motion management GmbH at a multi-purpose-built, sports complex in Mallorca.

An experienced sports and events promoter in Germany, e|motion currently manages the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour 250 event in Stuttgart and will lead the charge when that event becomes a grass court tournament beginning in 2015.

"We are very excited about the great opportunity to join the WTA with a new tournament in Mallorca, Spain," said Edwin Weindorfer, chief executive and founder of e|motion management.

"Besides thanking the WTA and their board for their trust and commitment to provide us with the licence and sanction of this new event, we wanted to further thank The All England Lawn Tennis Club for their ongoing support and vision for another grass court tournament in continental Europe."

With the grass-court season expanding from two to three weeks, five tournaments will now be played in the build up to Wimbledon with the new 32-player international tournament in Mallorca set to take place in the second of week, the same week as the premier event in Birmingham.

The announcement comes as the grass court season expands from two to three weeks in the build up to Wimbledon with the new international tournament in Mallorca taking place in the second of the three weeks when it debuts in 2016 ©Getty Images



The venue in Mallorca will feature five permanent natural grass courts, which will be constructed and maintained in collaboration with the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

"I am delighted to welcome today's announcement of the prospect of a new event in Mallorca and wish to thank the WTA, Palma Council and e|motion for their support of grass court tennis and their considerable efforts in creating an exciting new event for players and fans to enjoy," said Richard Lewis, chief executive of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Wimbledon.

"The Aegon Classic in Birmingham is already a successful, well-established and growing event and having a second event in week two will be another important step in achieving our vision of a significantly strengthened grass court season."

From next year the grass court season will be expanded by a week, with WTA International tournaments in Nottingham and the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch, prior to the premier events in Birmingham and Eastbourne.

Following the announcement Stacey Allaster, chairman and chief executive of the WTA, added: "With the grass court season set to expand next year, it was important for the WTA to provide players and fans alike with a fresh opportunity to experience the expanded grass court tennis season.

"Thanks to the cooperation of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the WTA Board of Directors and e|motion management, the event in Mallorca will strengthen the grass court season leading up to Wimbledon."

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