Photo Source:TTV
For the first time in 52 years, the Queen’s Club in London handed out a trophy to a woman. Not since 1973, when the prestigious club last held a women's event, had it been done. Credit Tatjana Maria, the 37-year-old armed with wicked slice off of both wings, for making it look like the event had not missed a single year.
Playing the dazzling grass court tennis of yesteryear, Maria completed her incredible title run with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 15th-ranked Amanda Anisimova to become the oldest champion on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams in 2020. It was a brilliant display by the German, who kept Anisimova off balance with a steady diet of cutting slice and stunning defence to claim the victory.
Former Wimbledon semifinalist Maria, who will turn 38 in two months, had not notched a Top-20 win since 2022. She defeated Leylah Fernandez (ranked 30), Karolina Muchova (ranked 14), Elena Rybakina (ranked 11) and Madison Keys (ranked 8) to reach the final.
The last time Maria recorded back-to-back Top 20 wins was at Wimbledon in 2022, when she reached her lone semifinal at the All England Club. She will rise to No.43 (from No.86) in Monday’s WTA rankings, just one spot shy of her career-high.
Anisimova was goaded into unforced errors, and had trouble putting winners away against Maria, who kept her off balance and in uncomfortable hitting positions all afternoon.
The German broke four times from six opportunities and opened up a set and double break lead before Anisimova reeled her back in within a break. But Maria held her nerve and served out the victory in 83 minutes, earning her fourth career title.