In addition to Angelique Kerber, who, after giving birth, will turn out for Porsche Team Germany for the first time since 2022, team captain Rainer Schüttler has also nominated Tatjana Maria, Laura Siegemund and Anna-Lena Friedsam for the tough tie in the Brazilian economic metropolis. He will pick the fifth team member after the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami. Porsche Team Germany will be looking to qualifying once again against Brazil for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals that will be held in Seville in November.
“Angie’s return makes us much stronger. The win in the United Cup team competition and her recent results in Indian Wells have shown the top levels still within her,” says Rainer Schüttler who fully trusts the other players to come up with the goods again: “They’ve recently always been important for our team. Tatjana as the No. 1 in Germany, Laura and outstanding talents in the doubles and Anna-Lena because she forms a strong pairing together with Laura.”
The tie Germany against Brazil is the third in four years. In 2023, Porsche Team Germany won 3-1 in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena whilst in 2021 Germany returned home from Florianopolis with a 4-0 whitewash. However, everything is history for Rainer Schüttler. “The week will be strength sapping,” he says. “It’s a long journey to São Paulo and we won’t have much time to acclimatise. And the Brazilian No. 1 Beatriz Haddad Maia is always good for three points.”
The match will be played on clay in the Geraldo José de Almeida Arena. Built in 1957, it offers seats for 11,000 spectators.
