Four of the world’s top eight players will line up in the Aegon Championships on Monday, with a star-studded supporting cast competing for the title at The Queen’s Club.

The world No.2 and US Open champion Andy Murray, No.6 Tomas Berdych, No.7 Juan Martin del Potro and No.8 Jo Wilfried Tsonga will take on four-time winner Lleyton Hewitt, defending champion Marin Cilic, and rising star Grigor Dimitrov on grass courts widely regarded as the best in the world.

With crowds expecting to flood in, and with the sun starting to shine on one of the longest-running tournaments on the ATP World Tour, the players can not wait to set foot on The Queen’s Club turf.

“They get big crowds who know their tennis and Tournament Director Chris Kermode and the organisers do a great job,” said Murray, at the launch of the tournament in February. “The grass courts are as good as anywhere in the world, which is perfect coming a week before Wimbledon. I’ve won the title twice before and I'd love to win it again this year."

For Berdych, it will be a first appearance at the Aegon Championships in eight years, and he is looking forward to returning. 

“Even though it’s a long time since I played there I still remember that beautiful club very well,” said Berdych. “I have to say that I have never played on a better grass court than at The Queen’s Club. I’m really looking forward to being there again to try to create some good memories.”

Del Potro won the US Open in 2009, and is now setting his sights on a big title on a different surface.

“I like to play on grass, and at the Aegon Championships you feel like you are at home,” said Del Potro. “They provide some great facilities for the players and it’s a very good tournament. Everything is made easy for the players - the locker-room is close to the courts, there is plenty of chance to practice on grass, and there are full crowds every day. It’s a really nice tournament.”

The main draw gets under way on Monday, with qualifying taking place over Saturday and Sunday. On finals day, Murray and Tim Henman will take on Ivan Lendl and Tomas Berdych in the Rally Against Cancer. The event will also feature the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, TV stars Michael McIntyre and Jonathan Ross, Sir Richard Branson and actor Eddie Redmayne of Les Miserables fame.

The Rally Against Cancer will follow the singles final, featuring a doubles match of Murray and Henman vs. Ivan Lendl and Tomas Berdych. After that, Murray and Henman will face each other, with the cast of celebrities as rotating doubles partners. 

The event will raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports The Royal Marsden - the world-leading cancer centre treating Ross Hutchins, the British Davis Cup player who was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma last December. 

As part of the Rally Against Cancer, an additional £10 will be collected for each finals day ticket purchased and this will go directly to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Lawn Tennis Association, which owns the Aegon Championships, will contribute £10 for every ace hit during the tournament. Donations can be made directly and at any time at justgiving.com/RallyAgainstCancer2013.

The Aegon Championships will be broadcast on BBC television and Eurosport, with BBC Radio 5 Live carrying reports throughout the week and live commentary of the semi-finals and final.

Tickets go quickly every year, but there are occasionally tickets returned by people that are unable to attend. Check ticket availability.