"She is a true example," Jabeur praises Maria after her surprise Queen's title

Last week, Tatjana Maria caused a stir by winning the WTA 500 tournament at Queen's. Coming through qualifying, the 37-year-old German, who defeated four top-20 players in London (Muchova, Rybakina, Keys, and Anisimova), reminded everyone of her prowess on grass, having reached the semifinals at Wimbledon three years ago.

Now ranked 43rd in the world after her Queen's run, Maria will undoubtedly be a threat in the upcoming London Grand Slam. Jabeur, who defeated the same player in the 2022 Wimbledon semifinals, shared her thoughts about her friend.

"I watched some of her matches when I had the chance. I sent her a message after her title. I’m really happy for her, for her family. She is a true example—someone who may have faced some difficulties in the past but still keeps a smile in every situation.

She always has a great mindset off the court. When she plays, she fights—that’s what I love about Tatjana (Maria). I know she loves grass, she slices a lot. It’s incredible.

I’ve learned so much from her, especially seeing her beat powerful players. Mastering the slice so well is amazing. I hope to use that shot at least as well as she does in the future," Jabeur told Tennis Channel.