Emma Raducanu has committed to playing in the new WTA 500 event at The Queen’s Club this summer.
The west London club has long been home to an ATP 500 tournament but women’s tennis will be returning to the capital for the first time in more than 50 years.
Raducanu is one of five players to sign up to HSBC Championships, which will be part of her Wimbledon preparations.
The former US Open champion will be joined by British No. 1 Katie Boulter, recent Australian Open winner Madison Keys, four-time Major champ Naomi Osaka and top-15 stars Jessica Pegula and Daria Kasatkina.
The new WTA 500 event at Queen’s will run from June 7 to 15, the week after the French Open.
Raducanu has often performed well on home soil. Last year, she reached the semi-final in Nottingham and the quarter-final in Eastbourne before storming into the second week of Wimbledon.
Boulter will also be a familiar face for the British tennis crowd. The world No. 27 also thrives on grass – she is a two-time defending champion in Nottingham.
“I used to watch the tournament every year growing up so to be able to compete at such a wonderful, historic, and iconic event to commence the grass court season is an honour,” Boulter said after signing up to the new tournament.
“We have some of the best women’s players in the world competing at Queens, and it takes the British grass court swing to a whole new level.
“To win that title as a British player would an absolute dream and I will do everything I can to get myself in that position. Let’s make more history this summer.”
World No. 6 Keys, who also loves the grass, is looking forward to competing in London. She said: “I can’t wait for the HSBC Championships.
“Getting to compete there for the first time and experience playing at The Queen’s Club is going to be such a special occasion. I love the grass court season, some of my favourite memories of my career have come when I won titles in Birmingham and Eastbourne.”
Retired British tennis star Laura Robson will be the tournament director of the HSBC Championships. She previously headed up the joint WTA 250 and ATP Challenger event in Nottingham.
She added: “I’m thrilled to confirm Katie, Emma, Madison and Naomi will be headlining the HSBC Championships in June.
“Fans will see some of the best female players on the planet, and with three grand slam champions and the British number one in the mix, it promises to be a spectacular return to The Queen’s Club for women’s tennis.”
