It was an excellent day for American women at yesterday’s HSBC Championships (they went 3-0 at Andy Murray Arena). Emma Navarro survived an epic round of 16 clash with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, coming from a set down to prevail 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 500/ WTA 250
HSBC Championships (Queens), Libema Open
Selected Quarterfinals- 13th June
WTA 500- Queen’s Club Championships
Emma Navarro (3) 1.3 vs Amanda Anisimova (8) 0.6
Haddad Maia dominated the early stages, serving and volleying with aplomb. The American baseliner found her footing in the 2nd set (though she had to save a match-point while serving at 5-4 down). Navarro then picked up an unexpected assist from an ailing audience member, as the match was halted with Haddad Maia leading 4-2 in the 2nd set tiebreaker. The Brazilian never recovered from that change in momentum and the American cruised to victory. Navarro started her season in solid fashion, reaching the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open before winning a decidedly understrength Merida Open. But she has largely underwhelmed, failing to win back-to-back WTA 1000 matches in six events. Navarro has shown some grass-court potential in the past, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last season.
Amanda Anisimova was made to work in her Queens opener, coming back from a set down against Jodie Anna Burrage. Anisimova had a far easier time of it in her round of 16 clash with Sonay Kartel, picking up her 2nd successive British scalp with a resounding 6-1, 6-3 victory. The American was on fire in the first set, blasting 13 winners to just four unforced errors in a clinical display of grass-court tennis (she never faced a single break point). Kartel made more inroads in the 2nd, breaking the American twice. Still, Anisimova was relentless on return and just had too much for the Brit (she got a total of 15 backhand winners in the match). Anisimova has played some consistent tennis this year, breaking into the top 15 for the first time in her career following her 4th round run at Roland Garros. She won a maiden WTA 1000 title in Qatar and will be hoping for a successful grass-court campaign to continue her momentum. She has some grass-court nous, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
The Verdict: Anisimova to win in straight sets at 1.27– Anisimova leads the head-to-head 3-0, winning their most recent meeting at this year’s Charleston Open. I don’t see any other choice than an Anisimova victory. She has a clear head-to-head superiority, and Navarro is fresh off a weak clay-court campaign. Anisimova’s backhand looked imperious against Kartel, and I think she should be able to dominate Navarro in the extended exchanges.
