New Delhi: Tatjana Maria upsets Madison Keys in the semifinals of Queen’s Club in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). The 37-year-old qualifier registered her first career victory over the American in her four meetings. She is the oldest singles finalist on the WTA Tour since 2020, when 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams won the Auckland Classic at age 38.

After winning, she said that she was “still living this dream” after shocking former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Maria has never been past the second round of any Grand Slam except Wimbledon, but once again, she is proving a formidable force on the grass court as she beat the 2025 Australian Open winner.

The mother of two kids expressed her love for the sport, as after the match she said, “You always have to keep going. You never can stop; it doesn’t matter how it goes. I love to play tennis, I love this sport, and we live for these special moments.”

Key’s exit was definitely a blow to her preparations for Wimbledon, which is set to get underway across London at the All England Club on June 30. She has failed to reach beyond the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in her 10 visits.

What next?

Maria now has a golden opportunity to complete her fairytale week against the World No.15 Amanda Anisimova in Sunday’s final. Maria now has a golden opportunity to complete her fairytale week against the World No.15 Amanda Anisimova in Sunday’s final. Anisimova doubled her total of Top 10 wins with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over the Paris Olympic champion.

Though favoured on paper, Anisimova isn’t taking Maria lightly, acknowledging the “tricky” nature of her opponent despite their lone meeting coming seven years ago in Beijing qualifying.