Before all eyes fall on Wimbledon for the third tennis Grand Slam of the year, a tournament takes place that is almost as beloved and historic as the All England Club showpiece.
The Queen’s Club Championships will be headlined by several top British stars in 2022, including the most successful player in the history of the tournament, three-time major champion Andy Murray.
Casper Ruud, who went all the way at the 2022 French Open before losing to the inspired Rafael Nadal in the final, will also be among the names taking part this year.
As reigning champion Matteo Berrettini prepares to defend his title, let’s take a look at the history of the tournament.
What is the Queen’s Club Championships?
The Queen’s Club Championships tournament was established 12 years after Wimbledon, in 1889, and attracts some of the world’s best players every year.
The women’s tournament was discontinued in 1973 — players on the WTA tour often head to the Eastbourne International to prepare for Wimbledon — and the event was upgraded to ATP Tour 500 status in 2015.
As well as prestige and ranking points, the scheduling of the tournament each June and its grass surface makes it a highly popular choice for players ahead of the major event on the British tennis calendar.
There are 32 players in the main draw with eight seeds, as well as doubles and wheelchair singles competitions, at the 2022 event (called the cinch Championships, for sponsorship reasons).
Why is it called Queen’s Club?
The club is based in West Kensington, west London, where it has 28 outdoor courts and 10 indoor courts.
Named after Queen Victoria, it was one of the first multi-purpose sports venues in the world when it was established.
The Lawn Tennis Association sold the club to members for £35 million in 2006, avoiding a legal battle after patrons claimed it did not have the right to put Queen’s up for sale.
These 1⃣st round clashes 😲@CasperRuud98 🆚 @ryanhpen @Taylor_Fritz97 🆚 @jackdraper0 @cilic_marin 🆚 @Liambroady @ReillyOpelka 🆚 @alexdeminaur @cam_norrie 🆚 @GrigorDimitrov @FTiafoe 🆚 @stanwawrinka @andy_murray 🆚 Lorenzo Sonego@MattBerrettini 🆚 Dan Evans
— cinch Championships (@QueensTennis) June 11, 2022
When are the Queen’s Club Championships 2022?
The tournament takes place from June 13-19 in 2022, finishing eight days before the main draw at Wimbledon begins.
Many view Queen’s as the start of the grass court season, arriving eight days after the final of the French Open, which is held on clay.
Which players have won Queen’s?
Murray has won five singles titles and one doubles honour during 15 appearances at Queen’s.
Berrettini’s victory in 2021 helped the Italian find the momentum to reach the final of Wimbledon the following month, where he was beaten by the formidable Novak Djokovic.
Americans Andy Roddick and John McEnroe have won the tournament four times, as has Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
Other legendary names to have triumphed include Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras.
Nadal won Queen’s in 2008, beating long-time rival Djokovic in a tight final.
Queen’s is one of the few tournaments that Djokovic has repeatedly competed at without winning.
The current world number one was also edged out in the final in 2018, losing to Marin Cilic despite winning the first set.