The esteemed Queen’s Club is set to host a women’s tennis tournament next year, marking the first time in more than fifty years that such an event will take place at the renowned venue. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event is scheduled to occur a week after the French Open, serving as the opening act for the grass-court season and positioning itself as a key warm-up tournament for Wimbledon. Following the women’s tournament, the men’s ATP Tour event will take place the subsequent week.
Amidst the excitement surrounding this historic change, some male players have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the quality of the grass at Queen’s Club due to the women’s tournament preceding the men’s event. Chris Pollard, the director of major events and digital at the Lawn Tennis Association, acknowledged that the arrangement might only be a one-time occurrence. However, Pollard emphasised the confidence in their ability to successfully host a two-week event at the Queen’s Club without compromising the quality of the grass. He reassured, “We have absolute confidence that we can stage a two-week event at the Queen’s Club. Obviously the championships at Wimbledon prove that grass can withstand two weeks of tennis.”
In response to concerns raised by the ATP Tour, Pollard affirmed that they have engaged in numerous discussions and have solid evidence demonstrating that the men’s event will not be adversely affected by the preceding women’s tournament. The ATP has given the green light for the tournament to proceed in 2025, with ongoing dialogue to secure the long-term success of the event. Pollard also revealed that the ATP Tour is interested in considering the future beyond 2025, indicating the potential for a permanent shift in the tournament’s format. He expressed confidence in the prospect of a permanent change, stating, “we remain in very close dialogue with them on that point and remain very confident that it will be a permanent change.”
This significant calendar change will lead to a reduction in status for the WTA grass-court tournaments in Birmingham and Eastbourne, both of which are also located in England.
It is evident that the addition of a women’s tennis tournament at Queen’s Club stands as a momentous occasion, signalling a new era for the prestigious venue and the grass-court season as a whole.
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