LONDON, April 26, 2019 (Press Release)

Former winner Grigor Dimitrov, three-time Grand Slam singles champion Stan Wawrinka and Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic have joined the Fever-Tree Championships line-up at The Queen’s Club, 17-23 June.

Dimitrov won the title in 2014 in one of the best finals in the event’s history – a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 triumph over Feliciano Lopez in 2014. Three weeks later, Dimitrov enjoyed a career-best run at Wimbledon, beating Andy Murray on his way to the semifinals.

“The Fever-Tree Championships has always been one of my favourite tournaments,” said Dimitrov. “I have a special connection with everyone that works there and the crowd, and will always look back with happy memories on winning the event in 2014. I am already looking forward to coming back again in June.”

Raonic reached the final two years later, leading Murray by a set and a break in the final before the British player won a record fifth title. Three weeks later, they met again in the Wimbledon final, with Murray coming out on top once more.

“I like coming to play at The Queen’s Club for the Fever-Tree Championships because I think it’s the best way to prepare for Wimbledon,” said Raonic. “You have some of the best players in the world competing at this event on pristine grass courts, with a very homely feel, at a tennis club. I think it’s great to be in London at that time of year as well. I really have enjoyed playing well there in the past, and hopefully I can continue to do so.”

Wawrinka has won the Australian, French and US Open titles in a glittering career that is fully up and running again after he underwent knee surgery in 2017. The Swiss beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (twice) in his three Grand Slam finals.

‘The Fever-Tree Championships is a great event and the grass courts at The Queen’s Club are perfect every year,” said Wawrinka. “I am very much looking forward to returning in June.’

They join defending champion Marin Cilic, British No.1 Kyle Edmund, Nick Kyrgios and NextGen stars Stefanos Tsitsipas, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in committing to play in the tournament at The Queen’s Club. Andy Murray has a career-long commitment to play in the Fever-Tree Championships, health permitting, and will advise on his fitness status nearer the time of the event.

“We are hugely excited about the line-up of established champions and talented young players that we have assembled to play in the Fever-Tree Championships this year,” said Tournament Director Stephen Farrow, who is also the LTA’s Director of International Events and Professional Game. “Grigor, Milos and Stan have played the tournament for many years and are hugely popular with our spectators. We look forward to seeing them all in June, with further big names expected to be revealed when our entry list is finalised in early May.”

The Fever-Tree Championships is owned and organised by the LTA, and was shortlisted for Event of the Year at the BT Sport Industry Awards last night. The event was recently voted ATP-500 Tournament of the Year by the players on the ATP Tour. The Roll of Honour includes Murray, Nadal, Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras.

The 2019 edition of the Fever-Tree Championships will take place 17th-23rd June, broadcast live throughout by the BBC and Prime Video in the UK.

Tickets are available, starting from £50 – http://po.st/QueensTickets2019

Introducing The Paul Hutchins Trophy – a new 18 and under event at the Fever-Tree Championships

The LTA is to introduce a new 18-and-under team competition at this year’s event Fever-Tree Championships in order to give a new opportunity to up-and-coming talent while also paying tribute to the late Paul Hutchins, Britain’s long-time Davis Cup captain, who died last month.

The Paul Hutchins Trophy will see Great Britain take on the United States in an annual event played on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June at The Queen’s Club, with four junior players from each nation representing their respective countries.

The LTA wants to open up the sport to as many people as possible, and Tournament Director Stephen Farrow, said: “This event will introduce some of the stars of the future to the Fever-Tree Championships experience, which is something I have wanted to do since I became Tournament Director. Naming the event after Paul is only fitting. He was an inspiration to so many of us in British tennis, he was incredibly passionate about junior tennis, and he loved country vs. country competition. We look forward to welcoming the players of both teams to The Queen’s Club in June.”

Ross Hutchins, Paul’s son, said: ‘The Paul Hutchins Trophy is a fantastic way to honour my Dad. I know he would have been very proud of this and would have loved to have been able to watch the younger players compete at such an iconic location. I’m sure it will be an excellent event.’

The players competing in the Paul Hutchins Trophy will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fever-Tree Wheelchair Tennis Championships event to return as a ranking event

This year’s Fever-Tree Wheelchair Tennis Championships is to be the first ever grass-court wheelchair tennis ranking tournament to take place outside of Wimbledon.

After a successful launch as an exhibition event last year, the tournament returns for 2019 with an elevated status as a fully-fledged event on the ITF’s UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, with ranking points at stake. The tournament is managed by the LTA and will feature eight of the leading players in the world as they bid to claim the trophy won by Sweden’s Stefan Olsson last year.  It will be held at The Queen’s Club from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 June, meaning it falls within the qualification period for the Paralympics and ranking points will contribute towards Tokyo 2020.

Tournament Director Stephen Farrow, said: ‘Last year’s tournament was a huge success and we are delighted to be able to run it as a tour event with ranking points this year.  Wheelchair tennis is a great sport for fans to watch, and the event is a fantastic addition to the Fever-Tree Championships.’ 

Fans will be able to purchase ground passes via the Fever-Tree Championships website to gain access to watch the action.  Anyone with Fever-Tree Championships Centre Court tickets for the Friday, Saturday or Sunday will also have the added bonus of being able to watch the wheelchair tennis action as well as the Paul Hutchins Trophy.  Players due to compete in the event will be announced in May.