American Tennis Stars Shine at Queen’s Club Championships
A trio of top American players, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, and Amanda Anisimova, secured victories on the prestigious Andy Murray Arena at the HSBC Championships on Wednesday, clinching quarterfinal spots in the process. According to Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the day’s proceedings saw Navarro pull off a remarkable escape, Anisimova dominate her opponent, and Keys cruise past a qualifier.
Navarro Saves Match Point to Outlast Haddad Maia
No. 3 seed Emma Navarro pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the second round, as reported by Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Haddad Maia dominated early on, serving strongly and volleying with precision, before Navarro began to find her range in the second set. Serving down 5-4, Navarro saved a match point with a bold drop shot-pass combination, setting up a thrilling tiebreak.
As noted in the WTA report, on resumption, Haddad Maia’s form evaporated. Two consecutive double faults and three unforced errors later, she found herself in a deciding set. The Brazilian retreated into passive play, and Navarro wasted no time in imposing her own game. Trailing 4-3, Haddad Maia coughed up another costly double fault to lose serve, and Navarro successfully served out victory after 2 hours and 47 minutes.
Navarro was quoted in the WTA saying, “I’ve probably spent the most time on court with Bia of anyone on tour. We play each other all the time, and it always goes three sets and comes down to the wire.” This win marks Navarro’s third victory over Haddad Maia, leveling their head-to-head at three wins apiece.
Anisimova Sets All-American Quarterfinal
As per Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Navarro will take on her countrywoman Anisimova in Friday’s quarterfinals. Following Navarro’s marathon on Andy Murray Arena, No. 8 seed Anisimova had a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over Britain’s Sonay Kartal in just 64 minutes. Anisimova was on fire, denying Kartal a second consecutive Top 20 win.
The WTA report stated that Anisimova never faced break point in the first set, where she slammed 13 winners to just four unforced errors. Kartal was able to break serve two times in the second set, but the Briton only held serve two times in the entire match. Anisimova dictated from start to finish, particularly from her backhand side, where she had 15 winners in total.
Anisimova can enter the quarterfinals with even more confidence, having a 3-0 lead over Navarro, including a win in Navarro’s hometown of Charleston this year.
Keys Cruises Past Qualifier
The day on Andy Murray Arena ended with No. 2 seed Keys’ 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Anastasia Zakharova, according to Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Keys was down an early break at 3-1, but she reeled off 11 of the next 13 games to prevail.
As reported in WTA, Keys was quoted saying, “It’s always a little challenging to play someone for the first time, especially on the grass when they’ve had matches. The first couple of games, I just felt like I was trying to find my footing, and then once I did, I played really well.” With three grass-court titles in her career, Keys is one of the most successful active players on grass, with only Petra Kvitova having won more WTA grass-court titles.
The American women’s contingent appears to be on a roll at the Queen’s Club Championships, with Navarro, Anisimova, and Keys securing quarterfinal spots. Their impressive performances will undoubtedly make them strong contenders for the title. According to the WTA, fans can expect thrilling matches in the coming days as the competition heats up.
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