Bublik gamble pays off as Draper, Zverev survive scares

THE grass-court season is in full swing, with top players spread between Halle, Germany and Queens Club, England —and even before Wimbledon starts, we've seen a handful of inspired cameos worthy of any major.

- DEBORAH CURTIS-SETCHELL

Tatjana Maria, a German veteran and mother of two, was crowned ‘Queen of Queens’ in winning this inaugural WTA tournament as a qualifier, in front of a packed crowd, with her husband and coach, Charles Edouard, and daughters, Charlotte and Cecilia (asleep in a pram) courtside.

This was a classic, in that Maria employed old-school tactics reminiscent of GOAT Martina Navratilova, slicing and dicing her way through a formidable line-up — which included both former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Australian Open winner Madison Keys - before trumping Amanda Anisimova, half her age, 6-3 6-4 to lift the coveted trophy.

She had lost 19 matches on the trot on the eve of her brave campaign.