Madison Keys unlocks Aegon Classic championship

Victory marked a second grasscourt title on British soil for Keys, who also won the Aegon International Eastbourne in 2014. She was also a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon last year and will go into this year's championships as contender after an impressive week in Birmingham.

"I'm feeling pretty good," said 21-year-old Keys, ranked 16 in the world going into the tournament. "I think getting this many matches in a row was a huge opportunity that I think that can definitely help me at Wimbledon. It definitely gives me some confidence and I would love to follow this one up with that. It feels good knowing that a lot of people who have done well here have done well at Wimbledon."

Strycova had some consolation when she and Karolina Pliskova won the doubles title with a 63 76(1) win over Alla Kudryayseva and Vania King. The doubles final had to be moved indoors mid-match when rain returned at the end of the first set.

"She was too good," said Stycova of Keys' performance in the singles final. "Of course, losing the final is always disappointing. But I played good couple matches and I beat good players on grass."

Meanwhile, Andy Murray won a record fifth title at Queen's as the Scot battled back from a set and a break down to beat Canada's Milos Raonic. Murray, inset, looked destined for defeat when Raonic took the first set and then led 3-0 in the second, but the British number one pulled off another superb fightback to win 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-3.

It means Murray's success at the Aegon Championships is now unparalleled, moving top of the list of champions and above four-time Queen's winners like Roy Emerson, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, and John McEnroe.