The fast-paced nature of tennis demands players to adapt, refine, and sometimes completely overhaul their playing style. The German veteran Tatjana Maria knows this all too well. She once left the tennis community buzzing with her unexpected adjustments on the court, showcasing that even seasoned players must tweak their approach to stay competitive. But what drove Maria to make such a change? 

Maria began her US Open campaign this year with a sensational straight-set win over Solana Sierra in the first round. She is now gearing up for a thrilling and grand battle against Coco Gauff, in the second round. But ahead of her match, the discussions about her skills are making waves in the tennis community and one such skill is her impressive backhand. 

The 37-year-old has made remarkable changes to her backhand skills. Once known for a two-handed backhand, the star player modified it drastically. She became the first ever player to switch from this style to a one-handed backhand, which not only surprised her opponents but the fans as well. But why did the star player change her playing style?

Maria engaged in an interview in 2022 and revealed the time when she took the decision. “When I was pregnant with Charlotte, we changed my two-handed backhand to one-handed backhand.” Continuing further, she revealed that the advice came from her husband and coach Charles Edouard Maria, whom she claimed to believe 100%.

Maria used to play a lot of slices before the change. However, her double-handed backhand used to block her shots, which she decided to change in consultation with her coach. However, it was not an easy change, by Maria’s own admission. “It was not an easy change because I played a lot of slices even before…And I’m really happy that I did because it feels now like I never played something else,” she said.

While this switch from a two-handed backhand to a one-handed backhand, Maria has another extraordinary achievement to her name.

When Tatjana Maria etched her name in tennis history

Tatjana Maria has demonstrated an impressive run on the tennis courts. Despite not winning a Grand Slam, she has etched her name in some historical moments of the sport, and one of them came at Wimbledon in 2022. 

Maria cruised through the semi-finals at the All-England Club in 2022. While she lost to Ons Jabeur eventually, she was the first ‘mother of two’ to enter into a Grand Slam semi-final.

The 37-year-old has often revealed that her children have been the biggest motivation for her success on the tennis courts. She has also been vocal about facilities for mothers during tours. “It would be helpful if all the big tournaments would provide a nursery. It’s something only offered by the Grand Slams and a few tournaments like the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix,” Maria said.

As she gears up for yet another enthralling match of her career, it would be interesting to see if Tatjana Maria can oust Coco Gauff and continue her winning run at the Flushing Meadows. What do you think?