Major change to iconic BBC sporting event as historic feature is reintroduced after 52 years
THE QUEEN’S CLUB will host a women’s tennis tournament in 2025 – but there will NOT be equal prize money.
British stars Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter can take part in a new WTA 500 event on the West London site next year in the week commencing Monday June 9.
It is the first time there will be a women’s singles champion since 1973.
The tournament will take place the week before the longstanding men’s ATP 500 event.
Yet where Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz earned £410,000 for his solo victory in 2023, the women’s winner in 2025 will not receive parity with the male counterparts.
Chris Pollard, LTA Director of Major Events and Digital, said: “The prize money situation is complicated.
“Not least because the current discrepancy between the ATP 500 and WTA 500 is approximately £1.2million.
“It should be noted, of course, that the WTA as a sanctioned body, just like the ATP, set prize money.
“We’re pleased that the WTA have committed to doubling women’s prize money from 2023 to the end of this decade.
“Ultimately the prize money is set by the Tours. In 2025, there won’t be the same prize money across the men’s and women’s 500 tournaments.”
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
As part of the new UK grass-court calendar reshuffle, the Surbiton Challenger will be axed while Birmingham now hosts a joint male and female event.
Andy Murray, 37, has won the Queen’s singles crown a record five times while his older brother Jamie, 38, will act as tournament director next month.
The LTA say they do not expect the grass playing conditions to deteriorate over the course of a fortnight.
Pollard added: “We are very confident that the operational arrangements at the Queen’s Club will readily accommodate two weeks of tennis.
“We will open up tennis and allow about 50,000 extra fans to enjoy the Queen’s Club at the start of the grass-court season.
“It goes without saying that the Championships at Wimbledon prove grass can withstand two weeks of tennis.”