Tatjana Maria’s grand slam record before reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2022: 13 losses in qualifying rounds, 23 losses in the first round; 10 losses in the second round, 1 loss in the third round. In other words, her greatest success by far comes at age 34 a year after giving birth to her second child. Nothing quite like this has happened before. Now she’s an inspiration to many mothers, older women, and late bloomers of every kind.
Tatjana Maria and I share a birthday: August 8. We also share a heavy reliance on a shot few people rely on any more: the heavy forehand slice. “My slice is definitely my first shot, especially on grass,” Maria says. The heavy forehand slice slithers on the ground like a serpent. It scares you a little while tempting your ego as well. You know you are better than it with your bigger, better topspin shots. Get this shit out of here, you think. But it keeps slithering your way. So you have to stoop more, bend over. Get lower than you want again and again till you wake up the next morning and your buttocks and brains are sore. “Of course, you will not die” the Serpent says. “God knows that as soon as you eat the fruit your eyes will be opened and you will be like Gods.” “Of course, you will not lose,” the heavy forehand slice says. “Just hit aggressive shots with more pace and you will certainly win the match.” “Don’t you want to go for more, play tennis as it’s meant to be played?” So you overreach, make errors. That is the human condition.
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9 replies on “Tatjana Maria: The Forehand Slice in Wimbledon’s Garden of Eden”
Great stuff!
👏👏👏👏👍personal success counts
Agree! Thanks for the comment.
One of my all time favorite players. I watched her 4 or so years ago at a lower level WTA Challenger event in Newport Beach. Her short slice shots gave her opponent fits as well as her determined mind set in playing. I have followed her career ever since and was delighted in her recent Grand Slam success!
So cool you saw her at a Challenger in Newport Beach. I, too, love to watch her play.
My dad was a very successful Coloradan tennis player because of his slice forehand!
That’s cool, John. It’s a great shot. Thanks for the comment!
LOVE her game! And she can volley!!! I don’t understand the stigma surrounding the forehand slice while the backhand slice is embraced by the tennis establishment. I say you be you and slice away if that’s your thing, on either wing. Hit like no one is watching.
Right on, Garth!