Queen's Club Tennis: Complete Guide to the Cinch Championships 2026

Queen's Club tennis is one of the most storied and prestigious traditions in the sport — a week of world-class men’s grass court tennis at the historic Queen's Club in West Kensington, London, that has been a beloved fixture on the tennis calendar since 1890. The Cinch Championships — formerly known as the Stella Artois Championships, the HSBC Championships and the Aegon Championships — is the premier men’s ATP grass court warm-up event before Wimbledon, attracting the world’s top players every June as they prepare their grass court games for The Championships. Whether you’re planning to attend, want to understand the tournament’s rich history, or are simply passionate about grass court tennis, this complete guide covers everything you need to know about Queen's Club tennis in 2026.

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What Is the Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club?

The Cinch Championships is an ATP 500 men’s singles and doubles tournament held annually in June at the Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world — and the most important men’s grass court warm-up event before Wimbledon. The tournament is organised by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and attracts a field of top-ranked ATP players who use the event to fine-tune their grass court games ahead of The Championships. As an ATP 500 event, it awards significant ranking points and prize money, making it a serious competitive fixture as well as a beloved tradition.

History of Queen’s Club Tennis

Queen’s Club tennis has one of the richest histories in the sport. Key moments in the tournament’s history include:

• 1886 — the Queen’s Club is founded in West Kensington, becoming one of the world’s first multi-sports clubs
• 1890 — the first tennis tournament is held at Queen’s Club, establishing it as one of the oldest tennis venues in the world
• 1979 — the modern professional era of the Queen’s Championships begins, cementing its status as the premier pre-Wimbledon warm-up
• 1980s–1990s — the Stella Artois Championships era; the tournament becomes synonymous with grass court excellence and attracts the world’s best players
• 2021 — the tournament is renamed the Cinch Championships following a new title sponsorship

The Queen’s Club: The Venue

The Queen’s Club in West Kensington is one of the most exclusive and atmospheric tennis venues in the world. Founded in 1886, it is a private members’ club that opens its doors to the public for one week each June for the Cinch Championships. The venue features:

• Centre Court — the main show court at Queen’s, with a capacity of approximately 7,000 spectators; one of the most intimate and atmospheric show courts on the ATP Tour
• Court 1 and outer courts — a network of immaculate grass courts where early-round matches and doubles are played
• The clubhouse — the historic Queen’s Club clubhouse, which serves as the social hub of the tournament week
• West Kensington location — situated in one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods, easily accessible by tube and surrounded by excellent restaurants and bars

Why Queen’s Matters: The Wimbledon Connection

The Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club holds a unique and irreplaceable position in the tennis calendar as the most prestigious men’s grass court warm-up before Wimbledon. For players, Queen’s offers:

• Grass court match practice — the only way to truly prepare for Wimbledon is competitive match play on grass; Queen’s provides exactly that at the highest level
• ATP 500 ranking points — significant points that directly influence Wimbledon seedings
• Momentum and confidence — a title or deep run at Queen’s is widely regarded as the strongest possible indicator of Wimbledon form
• Tactical preparation — players use Queen’s to test serve-and-volley tactics, slice approaches and grass-specific strategies under competitive pressure

The correlation between Queen’s and Wimbledon success is remarkable — many Wimbledon champions have won at Queen’s in the same year. For a complete overview of Wimbledon and Grand Slam history, see our tennis Grand Slam winners guide.

Queen’s Club Tennis: Past Champions

The Queen’s Club roll of honour reads like a who’s who of tennis greatness:

• Andy Murray — the most successful player in the modern era of the Queen’s Championships, with multiple titles; the crowd favourite at his home tournament
• Roger Federer — multiple Queen’s titles as part of his grass court dominance; his victories at Queen’s were often a prelude to Wimbledon glory
• Pete Sampras — dominated Queen’s during his era of Wimbledon supremacy in the 1990s
• Boris Becker — won at Queen’s as part of his grass court excellence in the 1980s and 1990s
• John McEnroe — a multiple Queen’s champion during his dominant grass court era
• Lleyton Hewitt — multiple Queen’s titles; used the tournament as a key part of his Wimbledon preparation
• Carlos Alcaraz — the current generation’s grass court star, with Queen’s titles as part of his rise to Wimbledon dominance

Visiting Queen’s Club Tennis: What to Expect

Getting There

The Queen’s Club is superbly located in West Kensington, London:

• Tube — Barons Court station (District line) is a 5-minute walk from the Queen’s Club; West Kensington station (District line) is also nearby
• Bus — multiple bus routes serve the West Kensington area
• Car — limited parking is available in the surrounding streets; public transport is strongly recommended

Tickets

Tickets for the Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club are available through the official tournament website and the LTA. Options typically include:

• Grounds passes — access to all outer courts and the tournament atmosphere; excellent value for fans who want to watch multiple matches up close
• Centre Court tickets — reserved seats for show court sessions featuring top-ranked players; available by session (day/evening)
• Debentures and hospitality packages — premium hospitality options for corporate guests and serious fans

Queen’s tickets sell out quickly — particularly Centre Court sessions featuring top seeds. Book early through the official LTA website for the best availability.

The Queen’s Club Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Queen’s Club tennis is unlike any other tournament on the ATP Tour — intimate, knowledgeable and quintessentially British. The combination of world-class tennis, a historic private members’ club setting and a passionate London crowd creates an experience that rivals any Grand Slam for atmosphere. Strawberries and cream, Pimm’s and the sound of tennis on grass — Queen’s in June is one of sport’s great occasions.

Playing Grass Court Tennis Like the Queen’s Pros

Watching Queen’s Club tennis inspires players to take their own grass court game to the next level. Key tips for grass court play:

• Use the right racket — a Wilson racket or Babolat racket with a slightly open string pattern helps generate spin on the low-bouncing grass court ball
• Wear grass court shoes — dedicated grass court shoes with pimple outsoles provide the grip needed on slippery grass; see our tennis shoes guide for top picks
• Attack the net — grass rewards aggressive net play; work on your volleys, approach shots and serve-and-volley tactics
• Use slice effectively — the slice backhand is one of the most effective shots on grass; it stays low and skids through, forcing errors from opponents
• Serve big — the serve is the most important shot on grass; a powerful, well-placed serve can win points outright or set up easy put-aways
• Warm up properly — grass courts can be slippery; always follow our tennis warm-up guide to prepare your body for the demands of grass court movement
• Keep your overgrip fresh — a fresh tennis overgrip is essential on grass, where the humid conditions can make grips slippery faster

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Queen’s Club tennis tournament called?

The Queen’s Club tennis tournament is officially called the Cinch Championships — named after its current title sponsor Cinch, the UK’s online car marketplace. It was previously known as the Stella Artois Championships, the HSBC Championships and the Aegon Championships.

When is the Queen’s Club tennis tournament?

The Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club is held annually in June, in the week immediately before Wimbledon. The exact dates vary each year; check the official LTA website for the 2026 schedule.

Where is Queen’s Club?

The Queen’s Club is located in West Kensington, London, England. The nearest tube stations are Barons Court and West Kensington on the District line. The club is approximately 20 minutes by tube from central London.

Is Queen’s Club a WTA or ATP tournament?

The Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club is a men’s ATP 500 tournament — featuring men’s singles and doubles only. The women’s equivalent grass court warm-up is the Rothesay International at Eastbourne, which is a combined WTA and ATP event.

How do I get tickets for Queen’s Club tennis?

Tickets for the Cinch Championships are available through the official LTA website. Options include grounds passes and Centre Court session tickets. Tickets sell out quickly — particularly for sessions featuring top seeds — so book early.

What surface is played at Queen’s Club?

Queen’s Club tennis is played on grass courts — the same surface as Wimbledon. This makes it the ideal warm-up event for players preparing for The Championships. Always wear proper grass court shoes when playing on grass.

Who has won the most titles at Queen’s Club?

Andy Murray holds the record for the most titles in the modern era of the Queen’s Championships, with multiple victories at his home tournament. Other multiple champions include Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and Lleyton Hewitt.

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Official Tennis Associations

• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) — the national governing body for tennis in Great Britain and organiser of the Cinch Championships
• Wimbledon — the official website of The Championships
• ATP Tour — the official men's professional tennis circuit
• International Tennis Federation (ITF) — the world governing body of tennis
• The Queen’s Club — the official website of the Queen’s Club

Tournament information is accurate as of August 2026 and subject to change. Always check the official Cinch Championships and LTA websites for the latest schedule, tickets and player information. Affiliate links help support Tennis Mindset at no extra cost to you.