Can the second seed win the Queen’s Club Championship?
Australian Open champion Madison Keys begins her 2025 grass court campaign at the HSBC Championships in Queen’s Club, London. The American powerhouse faces Anastasia Zakharova of Russia in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, with a spot in the last eight up for grabs. The winner of this match will possibly face either Katie Boulter or Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals.
This will be the first meeting between Keys and Zakharova on the WTA Tour. The No. 2 seed is entering Queen’s Club on the back of a QF showing at Roland Garros – losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff in three sets. She has an impressive 26-6 record in 2025, winning 53 out of 75 sets in the bargain. On the other hand, Zakharova came through qualifying to reach this stage.
The 23-year-old young gun from Volgograd stunned the British fans when she took out Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic in the Round of 32 on Monday. Zakharova produced a flurry of aces as well as a jaw-dropping 84% win rate on her first serve to emerge a 6-3 6-3 winner. She will have to produce more of the same against Keys, who plays a similar flat and baseline-heavy game.
This Round of 16 entry is already a season-best performance for Zakharova. Currently ranked No. 111 in the world, she will face an uphill task to neutralise Keys’ fiery serve + forehand tactic. The 30-year-old won the trophy in Melbourne Park to kick start the year, but hasn’t managed to add to her cabinet since then.
| Madison Keys | Category | Anastasia Zakharova |
| 1 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 10 | WTA Singles Titles | 0 |
| 0 | WTA Doubles Titles | 0 |
| 1 | WTA-1000 Titles | 0 |
| SF (Rio 2016) | Olympics Best Performance | – |
| No. 8 | Current World Ranking | No. 111 |
Madison Keys will be determined to prove her might on the iconic grass courts this year. After all, Wimbledon happens to be her worst Grand Slam in terms of career-best results. She has the fast game to perform on the surface, and the moderate conditions in London enable her to hit through the line freely. Expect the American to thrash Zakharova, whose fire may have been extinguished after Round 1.
Prediction: Madison Keys in straight sets.
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Keys is a strong contender for the HSBC Championships title in 2025 – as per the pre-tournament odds. She has a high probability of taking this match in straight sets. The money line gives her 92% chance of progressing.
Madison Keys Win: -1100
Anastasia Zakharova Win: +650
(According to BetMGM)
