When mother-of-two Tatjana Maria steps on to Centre Court today for the Wimbledon semi-final, it could be the first step towards making history after qualifying for the Championship just a year after giving birth.
Maria, 34, from the town of Bad Saulgau in Germany, stormed through to the final four of the women’s tournament after beating fellow German Jule Niemeier 4-6 6-2 7-5 on Tuesday.
The world number 103 will take on close friend, Tunisian player Ons Jabeur in the semi-finals on Centre Court this afternoon, just over a year after giving birth to her youngest daughter Cecilia last April.
If she succeeds it would make her only the second woman to win Wimbledon after having a baby since the start of the so-called ‘open era’, in 1968, when professional players were first allowed to compete. Evonne Goolagong was the first back in 1980, three years after her daughter was born.
Tatjana Maria, from Bad Saulgau in Germany, has sailed through to the semi-finals at this year’s Wimbledon Championships just over a year after giving birth to her second child
Maria, 34, pictured with her husband Charles-Edoard Maria, eldest daughter Charlotte, eight, and youngest daughter Cecilia, one, says her family keeps her motivated
The tennis star hopes her eldest daughter Charlotte (pictured left) will become a little tennis prodigy
Maria and her husband welcomed their second child Cecilia into the world in April 2021
She is also mother to eight-year-old Charlotte, whom she had after marrying her coach Charles-Edouard Maria in 2013.
The family tours around the world while Maria plays in various tournaments
The tennis star, who is the World Number 103, will be facing Jabeur in her first ever Grand Slam semi-final – and she is in awe at having managed this incredible feat after giving birth to two children.
Speaking after yesterday’s sensational victory she said: ‘It’s a dream to live this with my family, with my two little girls. One year ago, I just gave birth, almost, so it’s crazy.’
And although she was knocked out of the competition by Maria, fellow German player Niemeier has not hidden her admiration for her rival.
Maria punched the air after going through to her first ever Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon
Maria defeated fellow German player Jule Niemeier in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon in a thrilling three-set match
Maria put her hands over her face in disbelief as she spoke in front of the crowd after her sensational win which saw her through to the semi-final
She said of Maria: ‘Having two kids, traveling with two kids the whole year, it must be so tough, especially because the younger kid is not even one year. It’s pretty stressful, I would say.
‘It’s just incredible how they’re handling all the situations. They’re coming here, just the husband, the two kids and her.’
Although the star returned to touring three months after giving birth to Cecilia, she remained ranked outside the top 250 until March this year.
And while she has soared up the rankings, she has juggled motherhood with practice.
Maria (pictured in Nuremberg signing autographs while carrying her daughter Charlotte in 2016)
Maria often posts photos of her daughters, Charlotte (right) and Cecilia (left) on Instagram
The tennis pro and World No 103 takes her husband and daughters on tour all around the world
Throughout the tournament Maria has been rallying with her daughter Charlotte on the practice courts at 8.30am every morning.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Maria said: ‘I love to be a mum and I love my two kids, and to be able to do this together.’
She added: ‘Everybody’s so nice and supporting us and believing in me and in our family and it makes it really special.’
The mother-of-two thinks Charlotte is the future champion of the family – and tennis certainly runs in her veins.
Maria (pictured in Melbourne in January 2022 with daughter Charlotte) has been rallying with her daughter at 8.30 every morning during this year’s Wimbledon Championships
Maria’s eldest daughter Charlotte is something of a tennis prodigy and the star hopes she wil follow in her mother’s footsteps
Maria, who until this tournament had not won a Grand Slam match since 2018, married her French coach Charles-Edoard Maria in 2013.
And according to the tennis ace, it is her family that keeps her motivated throughout tournaments like this.
She said: ‘Maybe I can appreciate it more because I know that there are more important things in life than playing a tennis match.’
Maria added that once the match is over, she goes back to being a mother, meaning ‘nothing changes’ in her family life despite her stunning successes on court.
In particular, she insisted that she will still be changing Cecilia’s nappy when she goes home in the evening, which certainly keeps her grounded.
When she isn’t on the court, Maria’s family takes priority – and she often posts photos of her daughters on Instagram.
On Cecilia’s first birthday Maria posted a photo of her two girls with the caption: ‘Happy 1. Birthday to our little Cici’
A year earlier when her daughter was born, Tatjana announced her to the world with a stunning photo of herself holding the newborn on Instagram.
She wrote: ‘Welcome to our 2nd princess … Cecilia!’
Maria was always likely to go into a sporting career, as her father Heinrich Malek, from Poland, played handball at an international level.
Maria will face good friend, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, in the women’s semi-final on Centre Court on Friday afternoon
Despite going through pregnancy and giving birth twice, giving up was never an option for Maria.
She has acknowledged that many people thought she would never return to the court after giving birth to Charlotte and Cecilia – but added those closest to her knew she would triumph once again.
Maria added that with the support of her family she has been able to carry on playing.
She told tennis.com: ‘To be a [mother] is for me on the top of my life.
‘I mean, for sure I play tennis, I want to do my best, and, yeah, that’s all what I want. But my kids are the priority.’
Although Maria’s husband and coach keeps a low profile in the public eye, the tennis star is full of praise for him.
After her return to the court in July 2021 following Cecilia’s birth, Maria posted a photo of herself, her husband and the children.
She wrote: ‘Merci to the best husband in the world for always being by my side! I love you!’