Andy Murray heads strongest ever field at Queen’s

16 of the world’s top 30 players will compete at the pre-Wimbledon event

Andy Murray with the Queen's trophy (Getty)

The Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club this summer will have the strongest field in the tournament’s history. The official entry list for the grass-court event shows that 16 of the world’s top 30 players are in the field.

The tournament, which will take place from June 13-19, was upgraded last year to an ATP “500” event, which puts it just below the tour’s nine Masters Series competitions. In January it was voted tournament of the year in its category for the third consecutive year by the players.

Fifteen of the world’s top 30 played at Queen’s in 2015, which beat the previous record of 12 in 2011, but that number has been exceeded this year. The figure of 16 also equals the record for a “500” event, which was set at the China Open in Beijing seven years ago.

Andy Murray, who will be attempting to become the first player ever to win the title five times, heads this summer’s field. The world No 2 is one of five top 10 players in the line-up alongside Stan Wawrinka (No 4), Rafael Nadal (No 5), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (No 7) and Milos Raonic (No 10).

Juan Martin del Potro, who recorded his best win since beginning his latest comeback following wrist surgery when he beat Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Masters, will be in the field thanks to his “protected” world ranking of No 7. Others in the line-up include John Isner, the Australians Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, plus the former Queen’s champions Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov.

Juan Martin del Potro (Getty)

“The Aegon Championships has always punched above its weight in terms of attracting many of the best players in the world to compete, but this year’s field at The Queen’s Club is our best ever,” Stephen Farrow, the tournament director, said. “Centre Court tickets sold out in less than 24 hours.”