The Nottingham Open witnessed a dramatic shift on June 20, 2025, as Katie Boulter's impressive reign came to an end in the quarter-finals. The British number two, who had secured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, was aiming for a historic third consecutive crown on her home turf. However, her 12-match winning streak was halted by American McCartney Kessler, who clinched a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre.
Boulter entered the match with high hopes, leading 4-2 and holding a break of serve in the final set. Yet, Kessler, ranked world number 42, staged a remarkable comeback by winning the last four games, including breaking Boulter's serve twice, to secure her place in the semi-finals. This loss marked a significant moment for Boulter, who had been dominant on Nottingham's grass courts over the past two years.
Reflecting on her performance, Kessler said, "It was a really tight match, it was close. I wanted to stay within myself and keep playing my game and luckily I came out on top. We are both aggressive players, so there was a lot of shot-making. I am trying to get as many titles as I can and put myself in the position to win titles. I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend." Her confidence and aggressive style were evident throughout the match, as she consistently challenged Boulter's game.
Prior to this quarter-final triumph, Kessler had already made waves at Nottingham by defeating top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in a thrilling three-set battle (7-5, 6-7(3), 7-5) and comfortably overcoming China's Lin Zhu (6-1, 6-4). This run has propelled her into her first-ever grass-court semi-final, a milestone in her career.
In the upcoming semi-finals scheduled for Saturday, June 22, Kessler is set to face either Slovak Rebecca Sramkova or the No. 7 seed Linda Noskova. Meanwhile, the other semi-final spot will be contested by Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska and Poland's Magda Linette. Yastremska secured her quarter-final win by defeating former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 7-6(8-6), showcasing her resilience and tactical prowess on the court.
Magda Linette, the sixth seed, also booked her spot in the last four by overpowering top seed Clara Tauson 6-2, 7-5. Both Yastremska and Linette have demonstrated strong form, setting the stage for an intense semi-final clash.
Boulter's journey to the quarter-finals was marked by solid performances, including a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over New Zealander Lulu Sun and a tough three-set victory against Sonay Kartal (6-4, 1-6, 7-5). Despite her eventual defeat, Boulter’s presence in the tournament underscored her status as one of Britain’s leading tennis talents.
Beyond Nottingham, the tennis world has been buzzing with other remarkable performances. At the Berlin Tennis Open, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered a stunning comeback against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a quarter-final marathon lasting two hours and 42 minutes. Trailing 6-2 in the final-set tiebreak, Sabalenka won six consecutive points to clinch a 7-6(8-6), 3-6, 7-6(8-6) victory.
Sabalenka reflected on her thrilling win, stating, "Elena, she's a great player and we've had a lot of tough battles. I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky, to be honest. I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points, and not so long ago, I was thinking that it's been a while since I've made a crazy comeback, and here I am. It's amazing to win matches like that and I'm proud of myself for how I stayed in. I was fighting, I was trying until the very last point."
Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1 in a rematch of their 2023 Wimbledon final. Additionally, Chinese qualifier Xinyu Wang advanced after eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip injury during their quarter-final clash. Wang's breakout week included a notable win over second seed Coco Gauff in a previous round.
The Nottingham Open and Berlin Tennis Open continue to showcase thrilling tennis action as players vie for key titles ahead of the summer grass-court season. With semi-final matchups shaping up and unexpected results shaking up the draws, fans can expect more excitement in the coming days.
As for Nottingham, the tournament now shifts focus to McCartney Kessler's promising run and whether she can capitalize on her momentum to claim her first grass-court title. Meanwhile, the departure of two-time defending champion Katie Boulter marks the end of an era and opens the door for fresh contenders to make their mark on this prestigious event.
