Jack Draper weighs in on new era at Queen's Club: Andy Murray honoured, WTA returns

London Queens Club

Draper weighs in on new era at Queen's Club: Murray honoured, WTA returns

Tournament Director Jamie Murray speaks to ATPTour.com ahead of 2025 edition

Luke Walker/Getty Images for LTA Andy Murray Arena is the centre court at the HSBC Championships. By Jerome Coombe

The HSBC Championships has a rather different feel to it this year: With the foundation of Andy Murray Arena and the return of a WTA 500 event after a 52-year hiatus, Queen’s Club is rocking.

Andy Murray is a record five-time winner in west London, having last lifted the singles trophy in 2016 before memorably coming back from hip surgery to claim the doubles title with Feliciano Lopez in 2019. This year, as the second seed and leading hope for his nation, 23-year-old Jack Draper aims to become the first British champion at Queen’s Club since his idol Murray.

“We just can't get rid of him,” Draper joked when speaking of Andy Murray Arena. “He is a huge inspiration to me. I remember coming here, watching him play when I was very young. I had a photo of him with the trophy... Watching him play Wimbledon and the legacy he leaves behind is massive. He’s won here five times.

“Hopefully I get to see him a little bit over this period. I definitely look back at old videos of him playing and have always been very inspired by him. To play on his court, I think it's a great thing they’ve done.”

As one of the leading venues on Tour, Queen’s Club captivates both players and fans with its serene atmosphere and charm: The HSBC Championships has swept ATP 500 Tournament of the Year for three consecutive seasons at the ATP Awards.

Located in the heart of west London and hidden behind residential buildings, the iconic club is named after Queen Victoria, its first patron, and the tournament boasts a prestigious roll of former winners, including Murray, Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick.

This year, the WTA Tour returned to the site to host a tournament during the week prior to the men’s event. Not only did the WTA 500 shine a spotlight on women’s tennis in London, but its induction offered players the unique opportunity to showcase their talent in the capital ahead of the season’s third major at Wimbledon.

The top two British women, Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu, took the chance to form a fan-favourite doubles team.

“I think it's great they're [able] to play in London,” said Draper. “It's definitely something I've heard the British players wanted, that they'd love to play at Queens, and I think it's been really nice that they've been able to play here because it's one of the best tournaments on the men's circuit... I've been watching the women all week, it's been great to see the level of play.”

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu play doubles at Queen's Club. Photo: Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images

Part of the recent success of the ATP 500 event is owed to Tournament Director Jamie Murray, who is embarking on his second year in the role. The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, who triumphed at Queen’s Club with Bruno Soares in 2017, knows exactly what the historic event means for the players.

“It seems like it's been a great week, a really positive event for the WTA, for women's tennis, and for British tennis in general,” Murray told ATP Tour.com. “Having tennis on the BBC for two weeks is huge for them. They’ve had good crowds. From the two or three days I’ve been here, it seems like it’s been lively.”

As well as a five-time major winner and experienced ATP Tour player, Jamie has witnessed firsthand the effect of his younger brother Andy’s career. As well as rising to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 — the same year Jamie climbed to Doubles No. 1 — Andy claimed three Grand Slam titles, a Nitto ATP Finals crown and consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016.

For many in the world of tennis, Andy is deserving of his new stadium at Queen’s Club.

“The guy has a lot of prestige, he is Sir Andy Murray for a reason,” said Michael Clutterbuck, a tennis fanatic based in Wimbledon. “I think you have to give him something like this to honour and tribute his great career. He’s won this tournament multiple times, the first British player to win a Grand Slam for however many decades…

“My favourite memory is him winning Wimbledon in 2013, the year before was heartbreak in the final against [Roger] Federer. That was the time when I became an Andy Murray fan.”

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