LIVING up to her top-billing, Tatjana Maria wasted no time reminding everyone why she’s the tournament’s no. 1 seed.
The 38-year-old German, ranked WTA no. 42, leaned on her experience to outlast France’s Leolia Jeanjean, 7-6(5), 6-4, in her opening match Tuesday night to move forward in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open.
While Maria and Manila favorite Alex Eala sit on opposite sides of the draw, the veteran is clearly enjoying her first taste of competition in the “humid” country —one that feels familiar thanks to a player she knows all too well.
READ: Eala the last home bet standing as Emana loses PH Open debut
Maria holds a spotless 4-0 record against Eala from their meetings in 2023 and 2024.
Though they haven’t crossed paths recently, the German has kept tabs on the Filipina’s rise and has been impressed by how far she’s come.
“She’s improving all the time. It’s nice to see that she keeps going all the time,” Maria said.
A mom of two tennis-playing daughters, Maria brings a rare blend of perspective and competitiveness to the tour. She made history at Queen’s Club in 2025, becoming the oldest WTA titlist since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2020.
That same maturity shows in how she speaks about Eala, whom she sees as more than just another opponent.
“She’s a really nice person and really good player, a fighter on the court. And she’s so young, hopefully she plays with my daughter one day. She’s a good example for my daughters because she’s a kind person,” Maria continued.
Family, it turns out, is another thread connecting the two players. Both are known for traveling with their loved ones on tour, creating a familiarity that extends beyond the baseline.
“She’s nice, any player would say that. She’s always happy, always talks, and we are seeing her all the time with our whole families, we’d see her with her parents,” she added.
Next up, Maria takes on Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova, WTA no. 174, as she keeps the momentum rolling in Manila.
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