On June 12, 2025, McCartney Kessler will face the top seed Zheng Qinwen in the second round of the HSBC Championships, held at Queen’s Club in London, United Kingdom. This WTA 500 tournament unfolds on grass courts and features a prize pool of $1,415,000, with live coverage available in the USA on Tennis Channel and in the UK on BBC and Tennis Channel. The match marks a significant moment as Kessler attempts an upset over the World No. 5 player.
Form and Recent Performances of Both Players
McCartney Kessler has had a mixed 2025 season, reaching two finals including a title win at the Hobart International where she defeated Elise Mertens 6-4, 3-6, 6-0. She also reached the final of the ATX Open but lost 5-7, 2-6 to Jessica Pegula. However, Kessler struggled during the clay court events, suffering first-round defeats at Rouen, Madrid, Rome, Strasbourg, and Roland Garros, where she narrowly lost to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in a close 5-7, 6-7(3) match. She has recently found form on grass, winning her opening match 6-2, 6-4 against Francesca Jones at Queen’s Club.
Zheng Qinwen enters the grass season riding a strong wave of consistent results, having reached at least the quarterfinals in five of her previous six tournaments. This includes appearances at the Sunshine Double events, where she reached the last eight in Indian Wells and Miami, falling to elite opponents Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. On clay, Zheng’s highlight was a semifinal run at the Italian Open, narrowly defeated by Coco Gauff in three sets, followed by a quarterfinal showing at Roland Garros where she lost to Sabalenka. Having received a first-round bye, this will be Zheng’s first match on grass this season.
Players’ Previous Encounters and Rivalry Status
This match marks the first time McCartney Kessler and Zheng Qinwen will compete against each other on the WTA Tour, adding an element of unpredictability to the contest as both players navigate unfamiliar territory against one another.
Grass Court Experience and Match Expectations
Kessler has yet to reach a final on grass courts; all her career finals appearances have occurred on hard courts, including her five finals across Challenger and ITF Tours. Conversely, Zheng’s record on grass has been less impressive, showing only a 27 percent win rate. Her most significant career achievements have come on hard courts, such as reaching the 2024 Australian Open final, and on clay accounts, winning Olympic gold at Roland Garros the previous year.
Despite her relatively low grass-court success, Zheng is favored to win this match due to her higher ranking and recent solid form. Her ability to consistently reach late stages in tournaments reflects her strong competitive level heading into this second-round showdown.
Prediction for the 2025 Queen’s Club Clash
Considering both players’ histories and current conditions, Zheng Qinwen is expected to secure victory in straight sets, continuing her momentum at the Queen’s Club Championships. Kessler’s grass-court inexperience may pose challenges, but her determination after recent wins could provide an intriguing contest.
“Pick- Zheng to win in straight sets” — (No attribution)