Emma Raducanu Set to Compete for Record Prize Money at Inaugural WTA Queen’s Club Championships
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is poised to compete for a share of record-breaking prize money at the inaugural WTA Queen’s Club Championships, taking place from June 15-21, 2025, in London. The tournament, the first women’s event at Queen’s Club in over 50 years, has announced a total prize fund of $1,260,000, making it one of the richest WTA 500 events and a premier Wimbledon lead-in. As reported by Tennis365.com, Raducanu, granted a wildcard alongside Katie Boulter and Naomi Osaka, will join a star-studded field featuring eight of the top 15 WTA players, including Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, and Barbora Krejcikova.
The winner of the 28-player singles main draw will earn $198,000, with the finalist pocketing $124,000, semi-finalists $74,000, and quarter-finalists $35,000. Even first-round losers are guaranteed $13,000, a significant jump from previous grass-court WTA 500 events like Berlin, where the 2024 winner took home $142,000. This prize money boost reflects the tournament’s ambition to rival top-tier Wimbledon warm-ups, as noted by former British No. 1 Laura Robson, the event’s tournament director, who told Sky Sports, “This player list confirms spectators are in for a brilliant opening week of tennis.”
Raducanu, ranked No. 41, is coming off a mixed clay season, highlighted by a second-round French Open exit to Iga Swiatek (6-1, 6-2) on May 28, 2025, earning her €110,000 (£92,211). Her grass-court pedigree, including a 2024 Eastbourne win over world No. 5 Jessica Pegula and a Wimbledon fourth-round appearance, positions her as a contender. Posts on X, like @MSports_all, hailed the event as a “historic” opportunity for Raducanu to revive her career on home soil. However, Chris Evert warned on Tennis365.com that Raducanu must balance her commercial commitments, with her £10-15 million net worth driven by sponsors like Nike and Dior, to avoid the fate of overhyped prodigies.
Raducanu’s participation, alongside her chance to be seeded at Wimbledon, underscores her focus on the grass season. “I’m excited to play Queen’s; the atmosphere will be electric,” she told the LTA website. With her career prize money nearing $5 million, a deep run could push her past this milestone, cementing her financial and competitive resurgence.
