Tatjana Maria on elite list alongside Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters as she takes Queen’s Club title
Tatjana Maria won the biggest title of her long career as a remarkable week for the mother-of-two concluded in the most joyous fashion imaginable as she lifted the WTA 500 title at the Queen’s Club.
The 37-year-old came into the tournament on the back of a nine-match losing run, but she came through qualifying and sealed her perfect week as she beat Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-4 to take the title.
Maria’s husband and coach Charles-Edouard and elder daughter Charlotte courtside, while younger daughter Cecilia slept in a pushchair, as her Mum achieved a minor tennis miracle by deploying a mix of spin and court craft that has also seen off Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys at the Queen’s Club.
“A dream come true. I came here I was never thinking I could hold the trophy at the end,” said Maria.
“When we arrived my little girl said ‘wow that’s a nice trophy, so big’ and I said ‘OK let’s go for it I will try to win it’. And in the end I’ve won it, it’s incredible. So happy.
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“Everything is possible if you believe in it. You go your way, doesn’t matter which it is but you have to keep going. I want to show this to my kids and hopefully they are proud. It’s amazing.
“The crowd here what an amazing week. From the first day it was full, such a nice atmosphere to play here in front of you all. To play tennis in front of a full crowd it makes it so special so thank you so much for coming and cheering for us.
“My family, my team. It’s Father’s Day in France so I have to say to my husband he’s an amazing husband, coach, he does everything. Thank you for always believing in me it’s doesn’t matter how it foes we always stick together and of course our beautiful girls, I love you both you’re amazing.
“We have such a great team, so much fun and of course we’re going to celebrate and I can’t wait.”
There have been numerous high-profile wins for mothers on the WTA Tour down the years, but this must be one of the more remarkable for a player who will rise to No 43 in the updated WTA Rankings.
Maria will now be a player to avoid when the main draw at Wimbledon is made, with her brand of spinny tennis a real handful on low bouncing grass courts.
This may well be the greatest moment of her career and while she was already among the iconic players who have lifted big titles in tennis after becoming a mother thanks to previous wins on the WTA Tour, she is in good company as all these greats of the game have also achieved title success after having a child:
Margaret Court – This record-breaking Aussie champion became the first mother to win a Grand Slam in the Open era when she defeated Evonne Goolagong, 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the 1973 Australian Open.
Evonne Goolagong – The first and so far only mother to win Wimbledon, she lifted the title in 1980 thanks to a 6-1, 7-6(4) success over Evert.
Kim Clijsters – The Belgian legend made history in 2009 by winning the US Open, becoming the first wildcard to do so by beating Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3.
Serena Williams – The American legend won her first WTA Tour title as a mother in 2020 when she won the ASB Classic in Auckland. It proved to be her final title as a professional player.
Victoria Azarenka – The two-time Australian Open champion won her first title as a mother when she lifted the WTA 500 title in Cincinnati in 2020 after a walkover in the final against Naomi Osaka.
Elina Svitolina – Won her first WTA title in nearly two years and her first since becoming a mother by beating Anna Blinkova 6-2 6-3 in the final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in May 2023.
Belinda Bencic – The Swiss star Bencic joined the list of mothers who have won tournaments on the WTA Tour as she came from behind to beat American Ashlyn Krueger 4-6 6-1 6-1 to win the Abu Dhabi Open final in February of this year.
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