Tatjana Maria, the defending champion of the Queen's tournament, has publicly criticized the event's organizers for not granting her a wildcard entry this year, despite her victory in the previous edition. The 38-year-old expressed her disappointment, stating that she expected respect as the reigning champion. Maria, who won the title last year against Amanda Anisimova, felt that her recent achievement warranted a wildcard, especially given that the tournament is still in its early years. Instead, the tournament director, Laura Robson, opted to award wildcards to British players, which Maria found disheartening. Despite this setback, she successfully qualified for the main draw by winning her qualifying matches against Lily Miyazaki and Kamila Rakhimova. Maria emphasized her commitment to the sport, noting her ongoing dedication as a mother of two and her desire to continue competing at a high level. The tournament has featured tributes to her past victory, yet she still feels that her status as a champion should have been recognized with a wildcard entry.