Sell-out crowds and joy: how Queen’s Club women’s tournament outshone the men The Queen’s Club tournament this year saw its women’s event vastly outperform the men’s, drawing sell-out crowds and showcasing significant British talent like Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter. Despite a weaker field for the men’s event due to injuries and logistical disadvantages, the women’s tournament demonstrated immense popularity, selling over 70,000 tickets and increasing its prize money substantially. This success has positioned the women’s event as a strong contender for a permanent and prominent place in the British sporting calendar.

• Queen’s Club experienced long queues at Barons Court station on the first day, highlighting popular attendance.
• General sale tickets for the men’s event sold out quickly but featured a weak field with only one top 10 player due to an injury crisis on the men’s tour.
• The women’s event was highlighted by Serena Williams’ return to doubles, though her partner suffered an injury.
• British players Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu achieved significant success, reaching the semi-finals and a major final respectively.
• The LTA is commended for bringing women’s tennis back to Queen’s after a 52-year absence.
• The women’s tournament sold over 70,000 tickets, operating at 98% capacity for most of the week.
• Prize money for the women’s tournament increased by over a third, making it the second highest for a WTA 500 event.
• The men’s tournament prize money also increased, but the gap with the women’s event narrowed significantly.
• The women’s Queen’s Club tournament is seen as having completely overshadowed the men’s event in certain ways.
• The goal is to establish the women’s tournament as a self-sufficient staple of the British summer sporting calendar.