Pre-Wimbledon tournament Queen’s Club announces major change – the first time in over 50 years
Female tennis stars will finally be able to compete at Queen's Club for the first time in over 50 years.
The Lawn Tennis Association have announced that a WTA Tour event will kick off the grass court season in 2025.
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The last time females took part in the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Kensington, west London, was in 1973.
But a new women's WTA 500 tournament will now take place at the iconic Baron’s Court venue a week after the French Open.
This will see the Eastbourne International and Birmingham Classic - known for attracting some of the game's top competitors - reduced in status.
The Eastbourne fan favourite will be downgraded from WTA 500 to 250 level, meanwhile the Edgbaston Priory club in Birmingham will host second-tier men and women's tournaments in the second week of the French Open.
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Elsewhere, the second-tier Surbiton event, which kicks off the grass court season, will be scrapped from next year.
Following the WTA 500 tournament at Queen's, the annual ATP 500 event will take place immediately after.
Commenting on the shake-up of the grass court season, Chris Pollard, the LTA’s Digital and Events Director, said: "We have been looking at how we can improve that calendar.
"We wanted a significantly higher profile start to the grass court season.
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"And that the three weeks before Wimbledon allow us to maximise visibility for tennis both in Britain and globally.
"We want to promote women’s tennis. Give an appropriate and equal platform to grow the audience.”
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Pollard also stressed he is confident that the men's tournament would not be negatively affected by the arrangement.
He added: "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.
"We've got independent data that really provides a lot of evidence that the men's week will not suffer in any way, shape or form.
"We've had many discussions with both tours in respect of that. (The ATP) have given the green light for the tournament to take place in 2025 and we continue to have an ongoing dialogue with them in respect of the success of the 2025 tournament.
"They would like to consider what happens after 2025, but we remain in very close dialogue with them on that point and remain very confident that it will be a permanent change."
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