LONDON — British tennis fans were treated to a historic day at the Queen's Club Championships as women's tennis made its long-awaited return to the prestigious grass-court event for the first time since 1973. The spotlight shone brightly on rising star Sonay Kartal, who secured the biggest win of her career, while Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter teamed up in doubles, marking a new chapter for the tournament.
The LTA's decision to reintroduce a women's event at Queen's—now branded as the Rothesay Classic—has been met with widespread acclaim. This year's edition features a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles competition, running concurrently with the ATP's Cinch Championships. The move aligns with the LTA's broader strategy to elevate British tennis and provide more opportunities for homegrown talent.
Kartal's Breakthrough Moment
The day belonged to 22-year-old Sonay Kartal, who produced a stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory over world No. 43 Sorana Cîrstea. The Brighton-born player, ranked 298th, displayed remarkable composure to defeat her highest-ranked opponent to date. "This is definitely my biggest win," an emotional Kartal told the BBC after the match. "To do it here at Queen's, with the home crowd behind me, makes it extra special."
Kartal's performance highlighted several key strengths:
- Exceptional movement on grass, sliding effectively into shots
- Precise serving (68% first serves in play)
- Aggressive returns that pressured Cîrstea's second serve
Raducanu & Boulter Join Forces
In a highly anticipated doubles pairing, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu teamed with British No. 1 Katie Boulter against the experienced duo of Magda Linette and Zhang Shuai. Though they fell 6-4, 6-4, the match showcased promising chemistry between the British stars. "We've been wanting to play together for a while," Boulter revealed post-match. "The crowd was incredible—we'll definitely look to team up again."
Raducanu, competing in her first tournament since April due to injury, looked sharp in patches. The 21-year-old fired several trademark backhand winners and showed no signs of discomfort from her recent wrist issues. "It's great to be back competing pain-free," she told Sky Sports. "Queen's holds special memories for me—I won the junior title here in 2018—so to be part of this historic women's return means a lot."
Historic Context
The return of women's tennis to Queen's Club ends a 51-year absence. The venue last hosted a women's event in 1973, when American legend Billie Jean King triumphed in both singles and doubles (with Rosemary Casals). That tournament was part of the Virginia Slims Circuit, a precursor to the modern WTA Tour. Current LTA CEO Scott Lloyd emphasized the significance: "This is about creating equal opportunities and inspiring the next generation. Having our top British women competing at such an iconic venue is transformational for the sport."
Tournament Upgrades
To accommodate the expanded event, Queen's Club underwent several enhancements:
- New locker room facilities for female players
- Equal prize money across ATP and WTA events (£2.2 million total)
- Extended practice court availability
Looking Ahead
Kartal will face France's Diane Parry in the second round, while Boulter begins her singles campaign against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Raducanu has opted to focus solely on doubles this week as she manages her comeback. Other British hopefuls include Harriet Dart, who plays qualifier Viktorija Golubic, and Fran Jones, set to meet third seed Jelena Ostapenko.
The tournament's return has already made an impact at the box office. Organizers report that Wednesday's session is sold out, with weekend tickets in high demand. LTA commercial director Chris Pollard confirmed: "We've seen a 40% increase in ticket sales compared to last year's ATP-only event. The public appetite for women's tennis in this setting is clearly enormous."
As the sun set on an historic opening day, Kartal's breakthrough performance and the Raducanu-Boulter partnership provided perfect symbolism for this new era. With Wimbledon just two weeks away, the Rothesay Classic at Queen's has immediately established itself as a crucial proving ground for Britain's female tennis stars and a celebration of the sport's progress toward equality.