Queen's Club Championship set to host women's tournament for the first time since 1973

History could be made next year on the WTA circuit, as organizers of the Queen's Club Championships are hoping to host a tournament for women for the first time since 1973.

The Queen's Club Championships has often been used as a pre-Wimbledon event by the ATP, with the stars of the WTA often using the Eastbourne International and Nottingham as their grass-court warm up events. However, if plans are approved, a WTA tournament will be held at Queen's the week after the French Open in June, on the same grass courts which will be used by men the following week.

Read also

Mirra ANDREEVA leaves in tears after Indian Wells loss to Katie VOLYNETS

Queen's event could begin in 2025, replacing Eastbourne on the WTA calendar

The LTA and The All England Club are eager to bring a WTA event back to London after more than half a century, with both organizations hoping the WTA sanctions the event by 2025. The Queen's Club Championships is expected to replace Eastbourne as the only WTA 500 event staged in the UK prior to Wimbledon. Although Eastbourne will remain in its traditional place, in the week before Wimbledon, it is likely to be downgraded to WTA 250 status. This means fewer ranking points and potentially less prize money will be up for grabs.

The future of the WTA events in Nottingham and Birmingham, two events also hosted in the UK, is not yet clear. There is the possibility of one of them being removed from the schedule altogether, and this will be apparent when the 2025 WTA calendar is published in April.