American Amanda Anisimova brought humor to her defeat at the Queen’s Club Championships final on Sunday, June 15, following a straight-sets loss to Tatjana Maria, 6-3, 6-4. Anisimova made a playful comment about deserving the “bigger champagne bottle” because she needed it more than the champion.
The lighthearted moment came after Anisimova reached her first grass-court final at the historic venue, which hosted women’s tennis for the first time in 52 years. Her runner-up finish is projected to move her to a career-high of World No. 13 as the rankings update.
Amanda Anisimova’s Remarkable Journey to the Final
Anisimova started her campaign by defeating Jodie Anna Burrage and Sonay Kartal 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 6-1, 6-3, respectively. She carried this momentum as she went on defeat No. 3 seed and WTA No. 10 Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory.
The No. 8 seed then battled World No. 5 Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling three-set match, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. It was Anisimova’s first victory over Zheng after losing their previous two meetings in 2024, both in three sets. This win was significant as she overcame a 6-2, 2-0 lead, showing remarkable composure under pressure.
Amanda Anisimova will hit a new career high next Monday
• No. 12 if she wins the final in London
• No. 13 if she loses the final in London pic.twitter.com/gsJfDtYWIs— Mario Boccardi (@boccardi_marioo) June 14, 2025
Anisimova’s Runner-Up Speech Adds Humor After Defeat
The final against 37-year-old Maria proved challenging for Anisimova. Maria’s unorthodox, slice-heavy game dominated the American throughout the 83-minute match as she defeated Anisimova 6-3, 6-4. Maria broke Anisimova’s serve early in both sets and never faced a break point. The German’s variety and tactical approach neutralized Anisimova’s powerful groundstrokes.
INCREDIBLE.
37 year-old qualifier Tatjana Maria beats Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4 to win the biggest title of her career at the Queen’s Club.
7 wins in 8 days for one of the most unbelievable title runs… ever.
R1: Fernandez
R2: Muchova
QF: Rybakina
SF: Keys
F: Anisimova pic.twitter.com/e7vvkTSPia— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 15, 2025
Maria saved 75% of break points she faced, while Anisimova saved only 33.3%. Both players had similar first serve percentage and points won on first serve, but Maria’s ability to convert break points and maintain pressure on her opponent made the difference.
During the trophy ceremony, Anisimova congratulated Maria, saying, “I would like to congratulate Tatjana. What an incredible week for you. So special, congrats to you and your beautiful family.” She also praised Maria’s performance, saying she “wouldn’t be surprised to see her in the Wimbledon final.”
Adding humor to the situation, Anisimova said, “I’m really proud of myself and I think that bigger champagne bottle is for me because I think I needed a bit more.” This comment from the American brought laughter and showed her positive attitude despite the loss.
The American’s journey from struggling mental health issues in 2023 to reaching major finals in 2025 shows her resilience. The tournament marked significant progress in her career, reaching a career high ranking.