German No. 1 seed Tatjana Maria hails organization, crowd at inaugural Philippine Women’s Open

The inaugural Philippine Women’s Open is currently underway in Manila, marking a historic milestone for tennis in the country as it makes its debut on the 2026 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) calendar. The tournament represents a significant step forward for Philippine tennis, placing the nation’s capital firmly on the international stage by hosting a WTA 125-level event for the first time.

Running until January 31, 2026, the Philippine Women’s Open is being played on hard courts and features a competitive 32-player singles draw alongside a 16-team doubles bracket. With a total prize purse of $115,000, the event offers players an important opportunity to earn valuable WTA ranking points while gaining crucial match experience early in the season. The tournament has attracted a mix of established tour veterans and emerging talents, all looking to build momentum as the global tennis calendar gains pace.

Among the notable participants was German top seed and world No. 42 Tatjana Maria, whose presence added star power to the maiden staging of the event. The former Wimbledon semifinalist praised the tournament’s organization and execution, expressing pleasant surprise at how smoothly the competition has been run despite being in its inaugural year.

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“The Philippine Women’s Open is super nice. I think that everybody agrees with me that the tournament seems to have existed for years. It is so well-organized,” Maria said.

DOWN GOES THE NO. 1 SEED

Unseeded Tatiana Prozorova of Russia stuns No. 1 seed and WTA No. 42 Tatjana Maria of Germany, 7-6, 6-4, to barge into the Philippine Women’s Open quarterfinals.

Other results to follow in this thread:@PhilippineStar @stas@PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/Ftumg37vkt

— John Bryan Ulanday (@bryanulanday) January 28, 2026

Maria shared her remarks following her opening-round victory over France’s Leolia Jeanjean at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. In a tightly contested encounter, the German veteran relied on her experience to close out the match, winning 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 to advance. While pleased with the result, Maria acknowledged the physical demands of playing in Manila’s climate, noting that the humid conditions posed a significant challenge for both competitors.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match because I have played her already a few times. She is a strong player, too. The conditions were also challenging because it was also humid so we were both sweating a lot.

“Of course, the crowd has been amazing from the first day. The Rizal Memorial Tennis Center is completely full, which is why I think players like me find it nice to play here,” Maria concluded.

The enthusiastic turnout from Filipino fans has been one of the early highlights of the tournament, underscoring the country’s growing appetite for high-level international tennis. Packed stands and lively support have helped create an atmosphere more commonly associated with long-established tour stops, further validating the Philippines’ inclusion on the WTA circuit.

Despite her strong start and positive impressions of the event, Maria’s campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, January 28. The 38-year-old bowed out in the second round after a hard-fought 6-7, 4-6 loss to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova, who capitalized on key moments to secure the upset victory.

Even with Maria’s early exit, the Philippine Women’s Open continues to gain momentum as the week progresses, offering local fans a rare opportunity to witness world-class women’s tennis firsthand. As the tournament unfolds, its successful launch signals a promising future for the Philippines as a regular stop on the global tennis tour.

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