How Queen’s is following Wimbledon’s lead

Few things signal the start of the British summer quite like the start of the grass-court tennis season, and for the first time in 52 years, Queen’s Club used its slot in the calendar to host a women’s tennis event.

In 1973, when Queen’s last hosted women’s tennis, Edward Heath was the UK Prime Minister and Queen were still two years away from releasing Bohemian Rhapsody.

As the rain of the previous week gave way for warmth and a smattering of sunshine, and raincoats were swapped for sunglasses and cream clothing, it turned into the ideal setting to celebrate women’s tennis.

Olga Morozova was the last woman to win at Queen’s, representing the Soviet Union and the event was sponsored by a tobacco company and offering just £1,000 prize money (approximately equivalent to £15,000 in today’s money).

Queen’s as a venue emerges from its West Kensington setting almost by surprise, so much is the compact club nestled into the streets of white and brick terraced houses.

Using only ball girls for the two weeks from local schools, Queen’s hosting women’s tennis has been decided, at least in part, to attract a more diverse audience to tennis – according to those organising the tournament.

Although not a sell-out crowd (at least on the opening day), over 80 per cent of tickets for the week had been sold, and many of those who attended the first day had to miss out on the game of the day featuring Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu.

The queue to get into the smaller court with a capacity of just 1,000 stretched for an hour and those who had bought tickets hoping to see the top-rated players were left “outraged” and stranded outside the court, with some peering over the back of the stand from the newly named Andy Murray Arena to catch a glimpse of the action.

Court No 1 is so compact that while filling up her water bottle, Raducanu was able to have an exchange with a spectator – at an almost closer proximity than those who had gathered to watch her practice earlier in the day.

Britain’s top two players beat Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu 6-4, 6-2 in their match, only Raducanu’s second doubles match and her first win. British No 3 Sonay Kartal was in action on centre court, claiming the biggest win of her career against world No 16 Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

“I was excited to be the first Brit on the Andy Murray Arena,” Kartal said after her victory.

“Obviously, it’s super special that we get to play here, as well. I came to this tournament as a kid and grew up watching it in person and on the telly.

“For us women to be able to play here, I think is special, and obviously to have the crowd, whether or not it is women predominant or not, I think it’s just a special moment for us to be able to play on this court.”

Nerves of steel🧊

Sonay Kartal holds her nerve to take out Kasatkina in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.#HSBCChampionshipspic.twitter.com/LwfVnHtHkj

— wta (@WTA) June 9, 2025

Fans cheered for the home favourites, while those matches without British interest were still well-attended, although as always at sporting matches, the population shifted throughout the day from courtside to the refreshment areas, including a bar on a balcony set up in front of a screen showing the main event.

Opening the Arena named after him at the start of the day, Andy Murray, who had often championed Women’s tennis throughout his career, said: “This court has had many great matches on it. I think it’s a great chance for women to showcase themselves out there. You’ve got some great players. You’re lucky, you’ll get to see some brilliant matches.”

More than 50,000 fans had bought tickets for the week of women’s tennis at Queen’s, of which 55 per cent were bought by women. Women’s tennis was not the only new facet of Queen’s in 2025, as the tournament also welcomed technological advances.

Although not obvious to those sitting in the stands aside from the addition of its name to the advertising hoardings, Infosys was announced as the official AI and Innovation Partner for the Championships.

The technology is already used on the ATP Tour and at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Queen’s also followed Wimbledon’s example and has automated line calls, which the grand slam will implement for the first time at the end of this month.

What is more obvious, however, is the increased prize money, up to £1 million for the women’s competition this year, more than the about £730,000 that is the required minimum for similar events – although even the increased sum is around half of what the men’s event next week will receive.

Women’s tennis has been given the platform, and on day one at least, it delivered with Kartal and the doubles partnership of ‘Boultercanu’ reaching the second round.