Britain’s Sonay Kartal secured the biggest win of her career as women’s tennis returned to Queen’s Club for the first time since 1973.
The 23-year-old secured a superb 6-1 3-6 6-3 win over world number 16 Daria Kasatkina of Australia to start her grass-court season on a high.
It is the first time a women’s tournament has been held at the iconic venue since 1973, when Olga Morozova lifted the trophy.
Queen’s has been a mainstay on the men’s calendar and a WTA 500 event has been added this year in an attempt to raise the profile of the women’s game and increase the visibility of the sport.
Come Sunday, the trophy will finally have a new name on it, with world number seven Zheng Qinwen, Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina among the top seeds competing in the capital.
