diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/utils.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/utils.py
index 7b9e8c87f..168090b56 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/utils.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/utils.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 """Common utilities."""
 
 import logging
+from itertools import islice
 from typing import Any, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import torch
@@ -274,7 +275,10 @@ def _python_convert_to_bigram_key(tokens: List[int]) -> List[Tuple[int, int]]:
         return tokens
     if len(tokens) < 2:
         return []
-    return [(tokens[i], tokens[i + 1]) for i in range(len(tokens) - 1)]
+    # zip runs the pairing loop in C; islice avoids copying the list for the
+    # shifted operand. This is called per match_prefix/insert with EAGLE, on
+    # the full key length, so constant factors matter.
+    return list(zip(tokens, islice(tokens, 1, None)))
 
 
 try:
diff --git a/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_radix_key_views.py b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_radix_key_views.py
index 3cd1d68c2..4738cea24 100644
--- a/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_radix_key_views.py
+++ b/test/registered/unit/mem_cache/test_radix_key_views.py
@@ -44,6 +44,20 @@ from sglang.srt.mem_cache.radix_cache import (
 )
 
 
+class TestBigramConversionEquivalence(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_zip_impl_matches_index_comprehension(self):
+        from sglang.srt.mem_cache.utils import _python_convert_to_bigram_key
+
+        rng = random.Random(7)
+        for n in (0, 1, 2, 3, 17, 256):
+            tokens = [rng.randrange(1000) for _ in range(n)]
+            want = [(tokens[i], tokens[i + 1]) for i in range(max(len(tokens) - 1, 0))]
+            self.assertEqual(_python_convert_to_bigram_key(tokens), want)
+        # Already-converted (tuple) input is returned unchanged.
+        pairs = [(1, 2), (2, 3)]
+        self.assertEqual(_python_convert_to_bigram_key(pairs), pairs)
+
+
 class TestRadixKeyViewSemantics(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_slice_is_view_sharing_backing(self):
         backing = list(range(100))