The Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club has been one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world for decades, and in 2015 the event will be even bigger and better as it is upgraded from ATP 250 to ATP 500.

With the status upgrade of the tournament there will be double the ranking points and an extra $1 million dollars in prize money on offer.

The Aegon Championships will also move dates in 2015 to 15th-21st June, occupying the middle week of an expanded three-week grass court build-up to Wimbledon.

Tournament Director Ross Hutchins believes that the new status and date of the tournament will add even greater appeal to the event. He said: “The Aegon Championships has always been known on the ATP World Tour for the quality of its grass courts, its capacity crowds, and a roll of honour which features many of the best players of all-time. Now, with more points and prize money on offer, and the chance for players to recuperate for an extra week between the French Open and the start of the Aegon Championships, we are confident that the tennis on show at The Queen’s Club will be better than ever.”

The ATP World Tour consists of nine ATP 1000 tournaments, 13 ATP 500 tournaments and 40 ATP 250 tournaments staged around the globe. Players are required to play four ATP 500 tournaments a year.

In 2013, Andy Murray won the Aegon Championships title for a third time, and then became the first British man to win The Championships, Wimbledon for 77 years.

In 2014, Grigor Dimitrov lifted the trophy for the first time, beating Feliciano Lopez 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in a thrilling final. The Bulgarian went on to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon.