Tatjana Maria: The Oldest WTA Top 100 Player With Wins Over Rybakina and Venus Williams
Age Range in the WTA Top 100
The WTA Tour's top 100 singles players span an age range from 18 to 39 years. At the youngest end is Lilli Tagger, one of five teenagers currently ranked in the top 100, alongside 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who made headlines by winning a Grand Slam at Roland Garros this year.
Tatjana Maria: The Veteran Competitor
At 39, Tatjana Maria stands as the oldest player inside the WTA top 100. She debuted on the WTA Tour back in 2006 in Luxembourg at just 19. Now ranked world number 84, she has sustained a competitive presence for over two decades.
Known for her unique playing style, Maria relies heavily on slice shots on both forehand and backhand sides. This approach was adopted after taking time off following the birth of her first child, Charlotte, in 2013. Before then, she had never broken into the top 60, but changing her style helped unlock her best career performances.
Career Highlights and Achievements
- Career-high ranking: No. 36 (July 2025)
- WTA titles won: 4 (Mallorca Open 2018, Copa Colsanitas 2022 & 2023, Queen’s Club Championships 2025)
- Best Grand Slam result: Wimbledon semi-finalist (2022)
Maria’s biggest title came at the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships where she defeated top players including Elena Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys. Her résumé also includes wins against legends like Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, and Sloane Stephens.
Recent Form
This season has been mixed, causing a slight drop in rankings. Still, Maria reached the final in Eastbourne, made the semis in Rouen’s clay tournament, and claimed a WTA 125 title in Newport, Rhode Island on grass. At nearly 40 years old, she remains active, currently competing at the ITF 100k event in Templeton, California.
The Oldest ATP Player in the Top 100
On the men's side, the oldest player in the top 100 is Novak Djokovic, also 39 years old, ranked world number 11. Djokovic holds records with 24 Grand Slam singles titles—the most in men’s tennis history—along with 40 Masters 1000 titles and seven ATP Finals wins. He is also the current Olympic gold medallist.
Although Djokovic hasn’t won a Grand Slam since 2023 and recently exited early at the US Open, he has expressed his intention to compete at the 2028 LA Olympics, when he will be 41.
Inspirations at Both Ends of the Tour
Tatjana Maria and Novak Djokovic represent longevity and resilience in professional tennis, inspiring younger players across the ATP and WTA Tours by showing that age doesn’t necessarily dictate the limits of success.
