Sell-out crowds and joy: how Queen’s Club women’s tournament outshone the men | Tumaini Carayol

Serena Williams’ appearance plus Raducanu and Boulter doing so well put the men’s event in the shade this year

One of the more amusing sights at the Queen’s Club tournament each year comes before even entering the grounds. On the first day of play on Monday, a deluge of spectators invariably descend on Barons Court station, just 150 metres from the entrance.

So many people passing through a tiny London Underground station naturally means long queues at the barriers. That congestion is not helped by many of them comically pausing in front of the gates to frantically search for their debit cards or desperately try to unlock their phones.