German No. 1 seed Tatjana Maria wasted little time expressing her approval of the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, describing the event as impressively organized and polished despite being staged for the first time.

Maria shared her thoughts late Tuesday night after surviving a demanding first-round encounter against France’s Leolia Jeanjean, pulling out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Ranked 42nd in the world, the former Wimbledon semifinalist said the tournament felt like a long-established stop on the tour, crediting the smooth operations and welcoming atmosphere surrounding the WTA 125 event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

She also highlighted the warmth of Filipino hospitality, noting how players have been well taken care of throughout the opening days of the competition organized by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Maria embraces Manila atmosphere

Maria was equally appreciative of the local crowd, which has filled the stands since the tournament opened last Monday, creating an atmosphere she said enhanced the playing experience.

The German veteran remarked that the packed venue made competing in Manila especially enjoyable, adding that the strong fan presence was noticeable from the opening day of matches.

On court, Maria was pushed to her limits in a two-hour and 23-minute battle that tested both players physically, with humidity adding another layer of difficulty during the contest.

Tough test sets tone for campaign

Maria acknowledged she expected a challenging match against Jeanjean, citing their previous encounters and the Frenchwoman’s ability to sustain pressure over long rallies.

She noted that the demanding conditions required extra focus and resilience, but felt satisfied with how she managed the match as she settled into her first competitive appearance in the Philippines.

A Paris Olympic Games veteran, Maria expressed optimism about making a deep run in Manila as she prepared to face Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova for a place in the quarterfinals.

Prozorova advanced after eliminating Filipina wild card Kaye Ann Emana in straight sets, as the tournament also marked the first major undertaking of the National Sports Tourism-Interagency Committee led by PSC chair Patrick “Pato” Gregorio in 2026.