LONDON, March 21, 2017
Milos Raonic, the 2016 Aegon Championships and Wimbledon runner-up, has added his name to a star-studded line-up at The Queen’s Club, held from 19th-25th June.
Raonic joins World No.1 Andy Murray, 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, reigning US Open champion Stan Wawrinka and 2014 Aegon Championships winner Grigor Dimitrov, in the singles field. Jamie Murray has already confirmed he will be part of the doubles draw.
“Having reached the final of the Aegon Championships last year I really want to go one better this time,” said Raonic, who led Murray by a set and a break in the final last year before doing down in three.
“It’s a great tournament with more than a century of history, so to be so close to victory last year was a really special experience. At the same time I feel like, as well as Andy played in the final, it’s one that got away from me and I want to try to put that right this year. It is also a great way to be in the best shape on grass as Andy and I showed last year by reaching the Wimbledon final three weeks after Queen’s last year.”
Raonic, the World No.5, went on from the Aegon Championships to rip through the Wimbledon draw and meet Murray in the final last year. They also played a thrilling semifinal in the ATP World Tour finals at the 02 Arena in November, where Raonic stood a point from victory before Murray prevailed and won the tournament.
Stephen Farrow, Aegon Championships Tournament Director, said: “Milos won over everyone with his run to the Aegon Championships final last year and the grace with which he accepted defeat, and we are delighted that he is going to be back with us this year to try to go one better.”
With Centre Court capacity increasing by 30% in 2017, more than 15,000 additional people will be able to watch the action at the Aegon Championships – the ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year. The tournament has already sold more than 8,000 additional tickets than ever before.
Earlier this year Andy Murray made a career-commitment to play in the Aegon Championships, and the BBC announced that they will cover the tournament until at least 2024.
Last year, the Aegon Championships was voted ATP-500 Tournament of the Year by the players – the fourth successive year that the event has received a tournament of the year award.
Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Head of Brand & Sponsorship, Aegon UK said: “We are thrilled to see the return of Milos Raonic, who reached the final last year. We are in for a wonderful week of tennis at the Aegon Championships.”
