Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal will start his preparation for this year’s Wimbledon Championships at the Queen’s Club in London.
The world No.6 hasn’t played in the tournament since 2015, when he suffered a shock loss to Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round. Nadal is a former champion at the Aegon Championships after defeating Novak Djokovic in the 2008 final, but has missed four out of the last five editions of the tournament. Last year he was absent due to a wrist injury.
‘I am very happy to be coming back to Queen’s in June,” said Nadal. “Winning the title in 2008 is a great memory for me, the people that organise the event at Queen’s and the British crowds are fantastic, and it is the best way for me to be ready for Wimbledon.’
Nadal will be joined in the main draw by defending champion and world No.1 Andy Murray, who recently signed a contract to play in the tournament for the rest of his career. This year Murray will be bidding to win a record sixth title at the London event and his third in a row.
Tournament director Stephen Farrow has praised Nadal’s decision to return to the Queen’s Club, which will celebrate its 114th edition this year.
“Rafa is one of the greatest tennis players of all-time and one of the most popular ever to play at The Queen’s Club. To be able to add his name to that of the World No.1 Andy Murray in the Aegon Championships line-up in a year when we are expanding our Centre Court capacity by 30%, and just a week after reaching the final in Australia, is wonderful news for the tournament, our spectators and our sponsors.” Said Farrow.
Last year the Aegon Championships was voted the best ATP 500 tournament by players for the fourth consecutive year. The Queen’s Club also received an award for the best media services of any European ATP tournament.
The Aegon Championships will begin on June 19th in London. Other previous winners include Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl and John Mcenroe.
