German tennis player Tatjana Maria defied age and expectations to secure her first WTA 500 title at the Queen's Club Championships in London on Sunday, defeating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4 in a gripping grass-court final. The 37-year-old mother of two, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, celebrated her victory with daughters Charlotte and Cecilia watching courtside alongside her husband and coach, Charles-Edouard Maria.
"I'm a good example that even at my age you still can win big trophies," said Maria, who climbed to No. 43 in the world rankings after the win. Her path to glory included defeating four top-20 players, including Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and US Open semifinalist Madison Keys.
Maria's triumph marks her fourth WTA title and her first on grass since 2018. The former Wimbledon semifinalist now holds the distinction of being the oldest WTA singles champion since Serena Williams' 2020 Auckland Classic victory at 38.
The win positions Maria as a compelling underdog story ahead of Wimbledon, which begins July 1. Her career resurgence—including clay-court titles in Bogotá in 2022 and 2023—demonstrates remarkable longevity in a sport increasingly dominated by younger athletes.
