Amanda Anisimova Backs Queen’s Champion Tatjana Maria to Reach Wimbledon Final

Tatjana Maria improved her head-to-head record over Amanda Anisimova to 2-0 after beating her at the Queen's Club Championships.

Amanda Anisimova Backs Queen’s Champion Tatjana Maria to Reach Wimbledon Final

Amanda Anisimova, Tatjana Maria (Image via X/Tennis Channel, The Tennis Letter)

Before scripting history at the Queen’s Club Championships, Tatjana Maria knocked out four top 20 players on the trot, including reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the semifinals. Amanda Anisimova, whom the German beat in the final with a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline, backed Maria to reach the Wimbledon final.

Maria, at 37, became the oldest champion on the WTA Tour since 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, who won the 2020 ASB Classic at the age of 38. The Queen’s Club Championships is Maria’s biggest title of her career. Before Queen’s, she lifted two Copa Colsanitas titles (in 2022 and 2023) and the Mallorca Open in 2018. These three titles were below the 500 category.

In Grand Slam events, Maria produced her best when she made the semifinals of the 2022 Wimbledon. Anisimova, one of the Wimbledon quarterfinalists in 2022, lauded Maria and said she could be a dangerous player in the grass-court Major.

Yeah, I mean, she hits a lot of unpredictable shots over and over again, and it was really tough for me to play the way I like to play. I mean, that’s why I said that (Maria could reach the Wimbledon final). I mean, she also beat Madison yesterday, so, I mean, she’s very good on the grass, very difficult to play.

Amanda Anisimova said at the press conference

In 2022, Maria’s campaign at Wimbledon was ended by eventual runner-up Ons Jabeur. Since then, Maria has been unsuccessful in winning a match at SW19 as she lost to Sorana Cirstea in the first round in 2023 and to Katie Boulter the following year.

With her win at Queen’s, Maria improved her win-loss record in the final to 4-0. The four top 20 players she beat in a row were: Karolina Muchova, Elena Rybakina, Keys, and Anisimova.

Tatjana Maria cites Coco Gauff’s example while talking about her daughter

Tatjana Maria’s 11-year-old daughter Charlotte has already started playing tennis at a junior level. Following her win at the Queen’s, when Maria was asked about her dream of seeing her daughter become a professional tennis player, she cited Coco Gauff and her parents’ examples.

Coco Gauff (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Coco Gauff (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Charlotte has her own coach now because we try also to split it a little bit to be really…our goal would be…we are really parents for her, mom and dad, and she has her team.

Tatjana Maria said at the press conference

Gauff recently lifted the French Open by beating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and took a 6-5 head-to-head lead, becoming the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2002 to win at the French Open. The 21-year-old is also the first American to take home the clay-court Major after Williams in 2015.

It’s a little bit example of Coco Gauff also. We would like to do the same style, to be the parents at the end of the day. So, yeah, I mean, it’s a lot of organization, let’s say, but it’s super nice.

Tatjana Maria added

The French Open was Gauff’s first title of the season and her first since her victory at the 2024 WTA Finals. But the Belarusian, who has reached seven finals, was chasing her fourth title of the season. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion has now lost both the Grand Slam finals this year as before Roland Garros, Madison Keys denied her the three-peat at the Australian Open.

Both Gauff and Sabalenka are in Berlin for their first grass-court tournament of the season. They could schedule a third clash with each other this season if they reach the final. After Berlin, they will be gearing up for Wimbledon where Gauff has never reached the quarterfinals but Sabalenka is a two-time semifinalist.

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