The eagerly awaited all-Porsche Brand Ambassador duel was one of the day’s highlights. Angelique Kerber, the 2015 and 2016 tournament winner, was defeated 6-2, 6-1 by Emma Raducanu. “I naturally envisaged my return to Stuttgart a little bit differently,” explained the visibly disappointed Kerber after her first appearance in Germany after giving birth. “I’m currently not top fit and didn’t have a chance to prepare for clay. Despite encouraging signs, it just wasn’t enough. I’ll now recuperate and come back firing.”
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, was visibly relieved after her win. “It feels great progressing here, especially against such an experienced player like Angelique Kerber,” said the 21-year-old Briton. “I came up with the goods in the important moments. Thanks to my thorough preparations, I’m feeling really good and am playing some very good tennis.”
“I’m so happy to be in the next round“
In the first match of the day on Centre Court in the Porsche Arena, world No. 9 Ons Jabeur beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-3, 7-6. “It was an incredibly hard match against a testing opponent,” said the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up after clinching only her third victory of the year. “I’m so happy to be in the next round. After my knee problems over the past few months, I’m glad I can get to spend some valuable time on this wonderful court.”
Immediately afterwards in another marathon match, Porsche Team Germany’s Laura Siegemund demonstrated just why she is a crowd favourite in Stuttgart. The winner of the 2017 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, who was given a wild card for this year’s tournament, tussled hard with the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. Despite digging deep, she however succumbed 3-6, 7-6, 4-6 to the world No. 27. “I’m obviously very disappointed to exit after such a good performance,” reflected the 36-year-old after the game. “I never gave up and generally played some really good clay-court tennis.”
Coco Gauff taken all the way
In the evening’s first match, the crowd witnessed another three-set thriller in which Coco Gauff, last year’s US Open winner, was taken all the way by her compatriot Sachia Vickery, a qualifier, in the battle for a place in the quarterfinals. After a tense encounter lasting almost two-and-a half hours, the world No. 3 eventually came out on top 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. “That was very hard work,” she said looking relieved. “Strangely here in Stuttgart, I always have difficulties finding my touch. I’m all the more happy that I have another opportunity to play my best tennis.”
The time was way past midnight when Aryna Sabalenka profited from the retirement of her good friend Paula Badosa with the score at 7-6, 4-6, 3-3. She is now the second player to advance to the quarterfinals. “It’s not the kind of end one would wish for, especially as everything was so close at the end,” said Sabalenka, who after three runner-up finishes would finally like to take home the winner’s car, a Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo.
Five Top 10 players in action on Thursday
Spectators can look forward to further high-class matches on Thursday as five Top 10 players will be in last 16 action at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Opening proceedings at 12.30 pm will be the world No. 4 Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 2022, will be up against Veronika Kudermetova in the contest for a berth in the last 8. They will be followed by the duel between the Italian Jasmine Paolini and Ons Jabeur. Porsche Friend Iga Swiatek from Poland will begin her title hat-trick campaign at 5.00 pm at the earliest. The defending champion will face the Belgian Elise Mertens for a place in the quarterfinals. “I’m so happy to be here again, but I’m a little nervous as it’s going to be my first match on clay this year,” said the world No. 1 at Media Day. “But I love the surface and am looking forward to the tournament week here in Stuttgart.”
Approximately 24 hours after her opener, Emma Raducanu will go on court to play the young Czech Linda Noskova. Should she win, it will be the first quarterfinal for the 21-year-old Briton since injuries forced her out of the game for eight months last year. The day’s last match will be between the Chinese Qinwen Zheng, who reached her first ever Grand Slam final at the start of the year at the Australian Open, and Marta Kostyuk. Earlier on in the afternoon, the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon Champion and world No. 8, will face Anastasia Potapova on Court 1.
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.
