New Delhi: Tatjana Maria produced one of the most inspiring stories of the tennis season by claiming her first WTA 500 title at the HSBC Championships in Queen’s Club, London. The 37-year-old came through qualifying and stunned four Top 20 players along the way before defeating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the final to complete her fairytale run on grass.
The victory wasn’t just about a trophy; rather, it was a moment that symbolised perseverance, passion, and the remarkable longevity of a player who turned professional before her opponent was even born.
With this triumph, she became the oldest WTA champion since 23 Grand Slam champion Serena Williams won Auckland in 2020 at age 38. She also kept her flawless finals record intact, improving to 4-0 in WTA singles finals.
The Queen of Queens! 👑@Maria_Tatjana | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/5pWTA9m0LD
— wta (@WTA) June 15, 2025
Family in the front row, memories for life
The most heartwarming image came moments after match point when Maria threw her arms into the air as Anisimova’s final forehand sailed wide, and just moments later she rushed to the stands to celebrate with her husband and coach Charles, and daughters Charlotte and Cecilia. The youngest was just four years old and was napping in her pram and may need a highlight reel to understand what her mother just achieved.
“Against all the odds!”@Maria_Tatjana comes all the way from qualifying to become the CHAMPION at the #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/hACiA2CW0K
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 15, 2025
Maria first announced herself as a grass-court threat by reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022 but this title at Queen’s is her biggest yet. It marks the first time she has reached and won a final at the WTA 500 level.
A slice of history at Queen’s Club
This year marked the return of women’s tennis to Queen’s Club for the first time since 1973. The last champion, Olga Morozova, lifted the trophy 52 years ago and the German has now etched her name alongside her in the tournament’s history books. The 37-year-old’s unique slice-heavy game and clever movement proved too tricky for her higher-ranked opponents throughout the week.
She beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the semifinals, Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, Karolina Muchova in the round of 16 and finally World No.15 Anisimova in the final to lift the trophy. She even beat all in straight sets except for one match, which means that she dropped just one set in seven matches across nine days.
Looking ahead
This victory boosts her confidence heading into Wimbledon, where she has already proven herself a giant killer. For now, though, Tatjana Maria stands as the queen of HSBC Championships, ending a storybook that shows age is just a number and dreams don’t come with an expiration date.
The 37-year-old Tatjana completes her dream run in Queen’s as she clinches her fourth career title in straight sets, becoming the oldest champion since Serena Williams in 2020. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
