LONDON — In a shocking turn of events at the Queen’s Club semifinals on Saturday, Madison Keys was ousted in straight sets by the remarkable 37-year-old qualifier Tatjana Maria.
Maria, a dedicated German mother of two, triumphantly defeated Keys 6-3, 7-6 (3), marking her first-ever victory in four encounters with the reigning Australian Open champion.
With this win, Maria becomes the oldest singles finalist on the WTA Tour since 2020, following in the footsteps of Serena Williams, who clinched the Auckland Classic at the age of 38.
“You have to keep pushing forward. Never stop, regardless of how it goes,” she expressed. “I am passionate about tennis, I adore this sport, and we cherish these extraordinary moments.”
Ranked No. 86, Maria, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, secured an impressive victory over No. 8 Keys, who may have hit 10 aces but struggled to convert any breaks.
Keys, the No. 2 seed, left the tournament alongside the No. 1 seed, Zheng Qinwen, who was defeated by No. 8 Amanda Anisimova from the U.S. with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Anisimova and Maria have not gone head-to-head in seven years, and the anticipation for their matchup is palpable.
“It’s amazing to see her journey, and her family is just adorable, with her kids being present everywhere,” Anisimova shared. “This is incredibly special for her, and we’re gearing up for an exciting final.”
