LONDON — In an impressive feat at the Queen’s Club, German qualifier Tatjana Maria has delightfully dubbed herself the “Queen of Queen’s” after clinching the Wimbledon warm-up event, marking the most significant triumph of her tennis career to date.
At 37, Maria, who balances her life as a mother of two, secured her first WTA 500 title by defeating the eighth seed, Amanda Anisimova, with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 win in the final held on the lush grass courts of London.
Cheering her on were her daughters, Charlotte and Cecilia, along with her husband and coach, Charles-Edouard Maria. Reflecting on her achievement, Maria expressed heartfelt satisfaction, saying, “This victory is deeply meaningful to me. I’m an example that age shouldn’t be a barrier to winning major titles. I am extremely proud of myself.”
En route to this triumph, Maria demonstrated her formidable talent by defeating four top 20 players, including notable names such as Karolina Muchova, Elena Rybakina, and Madison Keys. This victory makes her the oldest player to clinch a singles title on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams’s victory at the Auckland Classic in 2020, when Williams was 38.
Maria’s previous accomplishments include victories on grass at Mallorca back in 2018 and two clay-court titles in Bogota during 2022 and 2023. Having once reached the Wimbledon semifinals, she continues to add to her impressive resume. Following her recent success, Maria is set to see her world ranking soar to No. 43 come Monday.
The win not only highlights her enduring skill on the court but also serves as an inspiration to athletes that age can bring experience and triumph in sports.