Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA London match.
For Anastasia Zakharova (No.111 WTA), this match represents a golden opportunity to break into the top 100 — a career milestone that now feels within reach. Her shock victory over Donna Vekić has injected a wave of confidence into her camp. Madison Keys, meanwhile, steps onto grass for the first time this season — and history suggests she may need time to adjust to the surface.
Anastasia Zakharova
Zakharova’s straight-sets win over Vekić (6:3, 6:3) was arguably the biggest result of her young career. The Russian was composed on serve, sharp in defence, and claimed 84% of points behind her first serve. She's now won four of her last five matches on grass and seems well-acclimatised to the surface. While her overall record in 2025 stands at 9 wins and 14 losses, she’s only lost by six or more games on two occasions.
Madison Keys
Currently ranked No.8, Keys is known for her power game, but often struggles to find early rhythm on grass. Despite winning 10 of her last 16 matches, only twice did she cover a margin of six or more games. Previous years show a clear pattern — she has often laboured through opening rounds on grass, needing tie-breaks or close sets against mid-tier opponents like Lauren Davis and Tereza Martincová.
Anastasia Zakharova vs Madison Keys Prediction
Zakharova is in form, has momentum on grass, and is already match-sharp. Keys, by contrast, tends to start slowly at this stage of the season. Expect the Russian to put up a fight, especially early on, and keep things close enough to cover a generous handicap.
