Emma Raducanu is part of the star-studded line-up at the WTA Queen’s Tournament this summer, with the event returning to London for the first time since 1973, putting to bed any ATP jealousy
Emma Raducanu has admitted to being a little jealous of the ATP Tour for being able to play at the Queen’s Club. After a long hiatus, the WTA Tour has triumphantly returned to the West Kensington venue for the first time since 1973.
The Queen’s Club is already known for its highly regarded men’s tournament – a consistent winner of the best ATP 500 accolade – and now female players are eagerly seizing their chance to shine. Raducanu joins the likes of Australian Open winner Madison Keys and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen on the fabled grass courts, who have previously shared their envy at the ATP players’ chances to compete at the venue.
Keys found it too tempting to resist the WTA 500 at Queen’s, especially given that her friend and ex-tennis pro Laura Robson is leading the event as tournament director. She admitted to pangs of jealousy each time her ATP friends played the west London leg of the tour.
She said: “Obviously, when Laura asked for me to play the tournament, it was a pretty quick yes. I’m happy to be here, and I’ve always loved the grass swing, so to start here for the first time in many, many years is really fun.”
She added: “I’ve always heard amazing things about the tournament and I’ve always been pretty jealous because the guys just rave about how great it is here and they love playing here. So, I’m really looking forward to being able to play here.”
Zheng, meanwhile, also admitted that her grass-court experience is limited, and that she has never made it to a quarter-final on the surface. Yet, the world No. 5 couldn’t resist joining the historic first women’s event at Queen’s Club as the WTA Tour graces its lawns.
The Chinese sensation said: “I watched the men’s event Queens and I’m really happy. The first time for the women, in my generation, that we can play in Queen’s in such a special club.
“It’s amazing for us that we can start first and we have the experience to play on such beautiful grass. I think it’s a very classic, old, traditional place, and it’s a special club because you have all the neighbourhood around, which is an amazing design from a long, long time ago.”
Donna Vekic, a grass-court aficionado who stormed into the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, has also always dreamt of the ladies taking centre stage at the iconic venue. The Croatian ace said: “It’s very historical and this club, when I watch the men’s tournament, it’s always amazing and I always wished that we had a chance to play and now we do, so I’m very excited to be playing here.”
But perhaps no one is more thrilled than Britain’s own tennis stars, who’ve grown up with eyes glued to the ATP event and are now set to dazzle their home crowd at this esteemed tournament. Raducanu couldn’t help but reveal a touch of envy towards ATP players in the past, admitting with a smile: “A little bit, healthy. But it was great seeing the guys play here, of course.
“When I was young, I came here with my dad. I was like hunting the brownies on the ground and not so interested in the tennis. But now to be back here and competing is a different feel for sure.
“It’s kind of interesting how it feels because you’re at home, you don’t necessarily feel like you’re playing a tournament or a match tomorrow. But I think it is also really good to switch off and just to have comforts everywhere.”
Elsewhere, British No. 1 Katie Boulter added: “I’ve actually always said to myself, I wish there was a women’s event here, I wish I got the chance to play on this court, because you can feel the history and you can feel how incredible it is.”
