Tatjana Maria: Family, Fortitude, and a Florida Home Base in Professional Tennis

3 days ago
2 min read

For Tatjana Maria, the Miami Open feels less like a road stop and more like a return to familiar ground. A longtime Palm Beach resident, Maria competes in Miami with the confidence that comes from living, training, and raising her family in South Florida. As part of Miami Living’s annual tennis interview series, we spoke with the veteran about balancing motherhood and professional tennis, finding longevity on tour, and why Miami’s heat and humidity feel like home at the Miami Open.

BY MARKIN ABRAS | PHOTOS TATJANA MARIA/INSTAGRAM

Tatjana Maria, born Tatjana Malek on August 8, 1987, in Bad Saulgau, Germany, turned professional in 2001. She was introduced to tennis by her father, Heinrich Malek, who also served as her first coach and helped shape her early development. After his passing in 2008, she continued pursuing her career with determination and later married French coach Charles-Edouard Maria, who became her full-time coach. The couple has two daughters, and Maria has built a career while balancing life as a mother on tour.

Family plays a central role in her daily routine. “I love doing things with my kids,” Tatjana Maria said. “Doing schoolwork with them and exploring places together is how I enjoy my time off the court.” Her rest and recovery also revolve around family life. “If my kids sleep well, I sleep well too. We’re all pretty good sleepers.”

Her biggest breakthrough came in 2018 when she won her first WTA singles title at the Mallorca Open, defeating Anastasija Sevastova in the final. She later added titles at the Copa Colsanitas in Bogotá in 2022 and again in 2023, becoming a two-time champion at the event. In 2024, she won the Transylvania Open, adding another WTA title to her career. That same stretch included the most significant Grand Slam result of her career at Wimbledon in 2022, where she reached the semifinals. During that run, she defeated Maria Sakkari and Jule Niemeier before losing to Ons Jabeur. Her performance made her the oldest first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in the Open Era.

The conditions at the Miami Open are familiar territory for Maria because of her life in Florida. She has lived in Palm Beach for more than a decade and trains there regularly. “It feels like home for me,” she explained. “I practice there all the time, so I’m used to the weather and humidity and I hope I’m well prepared.” Her best result at the Miami Open came in 2019, when she reached the fourth round. During that tournament, she earned wins over Elina Svitolina and Johanna Konta before losing to Petra Kvitová.