HSBC Championships 2025: Tatjana Maria becomes first WTA champion at The Queen’s Club in 52 years
• 2 MINUTE READ
From qualifier to champion, Tatjana Maria has etched her name into the history books after becoming the first woman to be crowned champion at The Queen’s Club since 1973.
Maria needed an hour and 24 minutes to beat American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4 and become the first woman’s champion at the HSBC Championships in over five decades.
The 37-year-old beat four of the world's top 15 players on her way to becoming the oldest player to win a WTA 500 event.
The HSBC Championships trophy marks the German’s fourth career title, and second on the grass after she claimed the title in Mallorca back in 2018.
She will now rise up the rankings to world No.43 - just one spot away from matching her career-high of No.42.
Speaking on what it means to have claimed the biggest title of her career at The Queen’s Club, Maria said, “It was such a great tournament, I enjoyed every second here.
“Everyone made it so special from the drivers, we had so much fun driving every day, ball kids, referees - everyone who made this tournament special, it was a pleasure to play here every day so thank you so much.
“To the crowd, what an amazing week. From the first day it was really full, such a nice atmosphere to play here in front of you all. To play tennis in front of this full crowd makes it so special and for us players we enjoy it so much so thank you so much for coming and cheering for us.”
Tatjana Maria run to the HSBC Championships title:
- Qualifying - first round: Bt. Chan Hao-ching (TPE, world No.N/A) 6-0, 6-2
- Qualifying - second round: Bt. Arina Rodionova (AUS, world No.220) 6-2, 6-2
- First round: Bt Leylah Fernandez (CAN, world No.30) 7-6(4), 6-2
- Second round: Bt Karolina Muchova (CZE, world No.14) 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-1
- Quarter-final: Bt. Elena Rybakina (KAZ, world No.11) 6-4, 7-6(4)
- Semi-final: Bt. Madison Keys (USA, world No. 8) 6-3, 7-6(3)
- Final: Bt. Amanda Anisimova (USA, world No.15) 6-3, 6-4
While she may have fallen short in the final, it was a memorable week for Anisimova who capped off an impressive week by making her first WTA Tour-level final on grass.
As a result, the American will climb to a career-high ranking of No.13 when the rankings update tomorrow and will look draw on the positives from her run in West London heading into the rest of her grass court season and Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old was full of praise for her opponent, saying, “I’d like to congratulate Tatjana, what an incredible week for you, so special. Congrats to you and your beautiful family, it’s really incredible to see you playing at this level and to have your whole family and team here with you, it’s super special to witness it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw you in the Wimbledon final because you really had me running out there today.
“To everyone who came out here this entire week, when I was having doubts during the week and not feeling like myself I’d look up and see a full stadium of you guys.
"It’s not something you see at every tournament so it’s been incredible to have this packed stadium. For you guys to come out and support women’s tennis, it means a lot so thank you.”
Maria arrived at the HSBC Championships on a nine-match losing streak but left as the champion after a dominant week in the British capital.
She’s troubled all of her opponents this week with her tricky style of play, inflicting damage with both her forehand and backhand slice, and it was a similar story today against the big-hitting American.
The German looked to apply the pressure early - drawing out 10 unforced errors from the American in the first set alone to grasp a break to love and move to a 4-1 lead.
A thunderous backhand winner from the world No.15 soon pulled the score back to level terms but Maria continued to maneuver her opponent from corner to corner.
Anisimova became increasingly more frustrated at Maria who effectively defended every shot.
With the pressure mounting, the 23-year-old netted a forehand to hand the break back, as Maria calmly served out a one set leave with a hold to love.
The momentum and confidence stayed with Maria in the second as she raced ahead to another early lead.
A tense fourth game saw Maria - who will tomorrow rise from No.86 in the world to inside the top 50 - face seven deuces points and fend off two break points on her way to clinching a double break lead.
Anisimova struggled to find the answers to the questions Maria was throwing at her and in a desperate attempt to stay close to the 37-year-old began to fire home the shots - ultimately rescuing one of the breaks back.
Stepping up to serve for her place in Queen’s Club history, Maria was rallied on by a packed-out crowd on the Andy Murray Arena.
After Anisimova sent a forehand long to gift Maria her first glance at a match point, the German used her trusty forehand slice to draw one final error as the Qatar Open champion hit a final forehand wide to secure Maria the victory.
Our event partners
Official broadcast partners
Official tour partners
