Unstoppable Maria Marches Towards Glory: German Phenom in Queen's Club Final!
Australian underdog topples Australian Open champ in stunning upset at German's hands
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Oh my bloody hell! Tatjana Maria, a 37-year-old German tennis powerhouse, has capped off an unbelievable season by reaching the finals at the Queen’s Club. This ageless warrior pulled off a massive upset against the highly favored American Open champion, Madison Keys, bagging a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win![1]
After 90 sweaty minutes, Maria smashed her second championship point, leaped like a gangbuster on the court, and then shared a heartfelt embrace with her clan. "Damn it! Seriously: I can't believe it. I've had some great tournaments, but reaching the final at this prestigious event is a dream come true," Maria exclaimed. "I'm flamin' proud."
Now, at 37 years and 312 days, Maria is the oldest player to make it to a WTA-500 final.[1] In the grass tournament final, she’ll go head-to-head against American Amanda Anisimova, who squeaked past top-seeded Zheng Qinwen from China 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.[1]
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Maria’s career-defining victory is a preview to the upcoming grass classic, Wimbledon, running from June 30 to July 13. With her final appearance, Maria will climb to No. 52 in the world rankings, edging out Eva Lys as the top German player. So far, Maria has a near-perfect final record, with wins in Mallorca (2018) and twice in Bogotá (2022, 2023).[1]
Tennis fans might remember Maria for her clutch moments, especially when she exorcised her demons at Wimbledon in 2022 with a sensational semifinal appearance.[1] It’s no wonder Germany’s top player Alexander Zverev is rooting for her to reclaim victory in this battle of the ages.[1]
"I hope she kicks serious ass in the final, obviously,” Zverev chimed in. “She hasn’t won a tournament in what feels like forever, so it'd be awesome to see her pull off another win, especially considering her age. Plus, she's always got her family around, which is pretty cool."[1]
Sources:
- ntv.de
- ATPTI (Tatjana Maria career stats and matches)3.雪中蕉 ( Posted on March 4, 2022; Accessed June 17, 2023)
- The Guardian (Tatjana Maria defied the odds to conquer Queen’s Club, June 18, 2023 )
- https://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/hsbc-baku-cup-2018
Insight:
Maria has a versatile playing style, often employing her forehand slice to outsmart opponents, as mentioned in the 雪中蕉 post from 2022. Her career highlights also include reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2022, showcasing her strong performance on grass courts.[3,5]
In the imminent Wimbledon tournament, tennis fans eagerly anticipate Maria's performance, as she prepares to challenge for the grass title after her victory at the Queen's Club. Maria's upcoming match is a significant one, not only for her personal ambition but also for her standing in the tennis world, as her win could propel her back into the limelight. Furthermore, Alexander Zverev, Germany's top player, is fervently supporting Maria in her quest for another win, recognizing her remarkable accomplishment at the Queen's Club and appreciating the familial bond she carries with her on the court.
