It wasn’t Tatjana Maria’s day. Despite an impressive second set comeback, the Porsche Team Germany player was eventually defeated 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 by the Belgian Elise Mertens.
“I’m naturally disappointed that I couldn’t win the match, but I’m satisfied with the way I came back in the second set,” explained the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist. “She played extremely aggressively in the third set and I ran out of steam. It certainly played a part in how everything went.” Maria, who returned only two days ago with Porsche Team Germany from the Billie Jean King Cup in Brazil, became more and more tired towards the end of the match which led to uncommon mistakes. “If you’re not 100 per cent then it’s frustrating. I gave my best up until the end,” continued Maria who visibly enjoyed playing in front of her home crowd as “there’s nothing nicer.”
Early today, the Italian Jasmine Paolini was impressive when beating her countrywoman Sara Errani 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the round of the last 16. Afterwards, the world No. 7 Qinwen Zheng, who at the start of the year reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, was also in fine form. Hitting powerful groundstrokes, she gave her opponent Sorana Cirstea from Romania no chance when winning in two straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. “Ever since my childhood, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has always been one of my favourite tournaments which is why I’m all the more pleased to have progressed here,” explained the 21-year-old Zheng in the on-court interview after the match. “I think I served really well and was moving well. Let’s see what the week brings.”
Shortly afterwards, the spectators watched another favourite come out on top when the Czech Marketa Vondrousova overcame Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-3. Fittingly, the reigning Wimbledon champion closed out the encounter with two aces. “The first match on clay is always challenging. I didn’t know what to expect but I’m pretty satisfied on the whole,” said the world No. 8.
In the final match of the day, the Czech Linda Noskova upset the world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia. The youngest player in the field at 19, Noskova won in two straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
Young German doubles team celebrates sensational win
Two Porsche Talent Team players caused a surprise as Ella Seidel and Nastasja Schunk sensationally beat the top-seeded title holders Desirae Krawczyk from USA and Demi Schuurs from the Netherlands. In a nerve-wracking match, the German youngsters kept a cool head in the match tiebreak to prevail 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. The win has put Seidel und Schunk, who were given a wild card, into the quarterfinals of a WTA tournament for the first time. Also into the round of the last eight is the local hero Laura Siegemund and her new doubles partner Barbora Krejcikova. After initial difficulties, the Czech-German pairing beat Fang-Hsien Wu from Taipei and Yifan Xu from China 3-6, 6-4, 10-7.
Other top stars start their tournament campaigns on Wednesday
Wednesday’s schedule at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix features many top players. Right away in the first match of the day – starting at 13.30 pm – on Centre Court in the Porsche Arena the spectators will be treated to the world No. 9 Ons Jabeur from Tunisia. Last year’s semifinalist will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova. It will be followed by Laura Siegemund playing her first singles. The 2017 Stuttgart winner will face the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, the world No. 27. “It’s everything but an easy first round for me,” said the Filderstadt-born player about her opponent who she has never faced before. “She played really well last year, which is why I certainly have to prepare well.”
Coco Gauff, one of the top favourites for the title, will go out onto Centre Court at 5.00 pm at the earliest. In the week’s first match in the round of the last 16, the reigning US Open champion from USA, who had a first round bye, will take on her compatriot Sachia Vickery. “I’m really happy to be back in Stuttgart again,” said the 20-year-old at Tuesday’s Media Day. “I’ve practiced well and hope I’ll have a successful week.” Awaiting tennis fans is another highlight at not before 6.30 pm when the two Porsche Brand Ambassadors Angelique Kerber and Emma Raducanu go head-to head. The three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber, who only returned to the tour in January after giving birth, is looking forward to her comeback on German soil. “It’s fantastic being back in Stuttgart,” explained the winner of the 2015 and 2016 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “Playing in front of a German crowd has always given me extra motivation.”
Concluding the day’s play will be a duel between best friends as the world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who successfully defended her Australian Open title in January, will meet the Spaniard Paula Badosa. The two also played each other in Stuttgart last year when Sabalenka edged Badosa in the quarterfinals.
Ticket sales
Tickets for the 47th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are available at the Porsche Arena box office and via the Easy Ticket Service – at www.easyticket.de or by calling +49 711 / 2 55 55 55.
