<p>Bengaluru: “Allez, Allez!,” called out Frenchman Charles Maria at the end of every instruction he gave out to his German wife Tatjana Maria during her second round match of the KPB Trust Women’s Open here on Thursday. </p>.<p>Seated at the coaches' chair, Charles was juggling between taking care of three of the most important girls in his life, all at once. </p>.ITF Women's Bengaluru Open: Sahaja slays Timofeeva; Ankita no match for Maria.<p>If observing every shot played by Tatjana on the court was priority, keeping an eye on their second daughter Cecilia (3 years) - sometimes quiet in her pram with her toys and I-pad and other times throwing tantrums - was equally pressing. Of the lot, their first daughter, Charlotte, engrossed in watching her mother play, was perhaps the easiest one to manage for Charles. </p>.<p>For the young family of four, such a scenario is the norm and the everyday hussle is a routine they thoroughly enjoy. </p>.<p>“He is doing a lot actually. He is taking care of the kids and at the same time coaching me and Charlotte. It is like a family business. And everybody has their roles well chalked out,” reveals Tatjana about husband and coach Charles. </p>.<p>The current World No. 90 and the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist, who is the top seed this week in Bengaluru, notched up her second win to enter the quarterfinal and is the favourite to win the title. But the results and rankings, at this juncture of her long career, have taken a backseat and are second in priority behind family, insists the 37-year-old Tatjana. </p>.<p>“I have two kids and the older one, who is 11, has already started playing. She wants to be the next champion so my goals revolve more around my family.</p>.<p>“Of course I want to win and practice everyday and I try to improve my game. But for us, tennis is a lot about what happens outside of the court as well. We travel to such nice places and see so many things. And we get to do it together. This is really the most important part for us.” </p>.<p>The family has been one of the first ones to show up at the courts during their time here. This is a practice they follow everywhere to instill discipline, says the mother. </p>.<p>“Coaching is my husband's job. I'm the teacher for Charlotte’s studies and her sparring partner on the tennis court. </p>.<p>“She practices tennis in the morning and afternoons are for fitness and then studies. We have this little programme. Because it is important to teach her discipline. She needs to know that she has to work for work to happen and become the champion.” </p>.<p>With a role model right in front of them, Tatjana hopes the couples' love for tennis spills over to their daughters in the years to come. The mother's need for setting the right example for her little girls is keeping her motivated to push the limits of an aging body and mind, she admits.</p>.<p>Is the tennis world headed towards a mother versus daughter match-up on tour soon then? Tatjana isn’t brushing aside the possibility!</p>.<p>“I always say it would be nice to play till she starts, that will be another 4-5 years (laughs).</p>.<p>“If my body holds up and I feel good and if I play like this, I will continue to play. I don't feel my age at all. Let's see. That will be fun!”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: “Allez, Allez!,” called out Frenchman Charles Maria at the end of every instruction he gave out to his German wife Tatjana Maria during her second round match of the KPB Trust Women’s Open here on Thursday. </p>.<p>Seated at the coaches' chair, Charles was juggling between taking care of three of the most important girls in his life, all at once. </p>.ITF Women's Bengaluru Open: Sahaja slays Timofeeva; Ankita no match for Maria.<p>If observing every shot played by Tatjana on the court was priority, keeping an eye on their second daughter Cecilia (3 years) - sometimes quiet in her pram with her toys and I-pad and other times throwing tantrums - was equally pressing. Of the lot, their first daughter, Charlotte, engrossed in watching her mother play, was perhaps the easiest one to manage for Charles. </p>.<p>For the young family of four, such a scenario is the norm and the everyday hussle is a routine they thoroughly enjoy. </p>.<p>“He is doing a lot actually. He is taking care of the kids and at the same time coaching me and Charlotte. It is like a family business. And everybody has their roles well chalked out,” reveals Tatjana about husband and coach Charles. </p>.<p>The current World No. 90 and the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist, who is the top seed this week in Bengaluru, notched up her second win to enter the quarterfinal and is the favourite to win the title. But the results and rankings, at this juncture of her long career, have taken a backseat and are second in priority behind family, insists the 37-year-old Tatjana. </p>.<p>“I have two kids and the older one, who is 11, has already started playing. She wants to be the next champion so my goals revolve more around my family.</p>.<p>“Of course I want to win and practice everyday and I try to improve my game. But for us, tennis is a lot about what happens outside of the court as well. We travel to such nice places and see so many things. And we get to do it together. This is really the most important part for us.” </p>.<p>The family has been one of the first ones to show up at the courts during their time here. This is a practice they follow everywhere to instill discipline, says the mother. </p>.<p>“Coaching is my husband's job. I'm the teacher for Charlotte’s studies and her sparring partner on the tennis court. </p>.<p>“She practices tennis in the morning and afternoons are for fitness and then studies. We have this little programme. Because it is important to teach her discipline. She needs to know that she has to work for work to happen and become the champion.” </p>.<p>With a role model right in front of them, Tatjana hopes the couples' love for tennis spills over to their daughters in the years to come. The mother's need for setting the right example for her little girls is keeping her motivated to push the limits of an aging body and mind, she admits.</p>.<p>Is the tennis world headed towards a mother versus daughter match-up on tour soon then? Tatjana isn’t brushing aside the possibility!</p>.<p>“I always say it would be nice to play till she starts, that will be another 4-5 years (laughs).</p>.<p>“If my body holds up and I feel good and if I play like this, I will continue to play. I don't feel my age at all. Let's see. That will be fun!”</p>