The Geraldo José de Almeida Arena in São Paulo seats 10,000 spectators. For Porsche Team Germany, the tie against Brazil is not just a big obstacle on the way to the Billie Jean King Cup finals because of the setting. It is something Angelique Kerber is also aware of: “Having to play in Brazil is definitely not a lucky draw for us. But we have to see everything positively and try to make the best of it,” says the Porsche Brand Ambassador. After giving birth, she has been back on the tennis tour since January and is eager to play for Germany again: “It’s a big honour for me.”
In addition to Angelique Kerber, the Porsche Team Germany captain Rainer Schüttler has also nominated another tennis mother, Tatjana Maria plus Laura Siegemund, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Eva Lys. A year ago, Brazil and its No. 1 Beatriz Hadad Maia was the opponent en route to the finals. Back then, Germany won 3-1 in the Porsche Arena over the same weekend as Porsche Tennis Grand Prix qualifying.
“Like in the past years, we’ve again got a team in which we all help each other and have a fun time together,” says Rainer Schüttler. “The atmosphere within the team is super. It’s why I’m very positive going into the weekend.”
In the first singles on Friday, 12 April, Laura Siegemund will meet Beatriz Haddad Maia at 18.30 hrs local time (23.30 hrs CEST). Afterwards Tatjana Maria will take on Laura Pigossi. Play on Saturday 13 April will begin at 15.00 hrs local time (20.00 hrs CEST) with Tatjana Maria taking the court first against Beatriz Haddad Maia. Afterwards, Laura Siegemund will play Laura Pigossi. In the concluding doubles, Anna-Lena Friedsam/Angelique Kerber will play Beatriz Haddad Maia/Luisa Stefani. All matches will be televised on Tennis Channel.
For Angelique Kerber, Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund, it will then be a question of getting back as quickly as possible to Stuttgart as they have all been given wild cards for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix’s main draw.
Tennis week of superlatives in the Porsche Arena
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which will begin with qualifying on Saturday, 13 April, features one of the best player fields in its history as nine Top 10 players, the four reigning Grand Slam champions plus a total of nine major winners will be competing at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament in the Porsche Arena. Awaiting the spectators is a tennis week of superlatives.
“It’s a big compliment for our tournament that the world’s top players are coming to us,” says Tournament Director Markus Günthardt. Anke Huber, the Operating Tournament Director, adds: “Nine from the Top 10 and 14 from the Top 20, it doesn’t come any better.”
US star Jessica Pegula set to make her Stuttgart debut
Tennis fans can in particular look forward to Jessica Pegula. The current world No. 5 will make her Porsche Arena debut. Alongside her doubles partner, the US Open champion Coco Gauff (No. 3), she is the second top star from USA that is coming to Europe so early in the season extra for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The world class Stuttgart event marks the start of the clay court season and is the perfect preparation for the French Open in Paris, the year’s second Grand Slam.
Heading the seedings once again is the Porsche Friend Iga Swiatek, the title holder and world No. 1 from Poland. She won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023, both times in the final against Aryna Sabalenka (No. 2). The reigning Australian Open winner and three-time Stuttgart runner-up will be making her fourth attempt to, as she said last year, “finally win the Porsche”. The coveted main prize for the winner is the Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo.
Attractive side events with many highlights
Awaiting the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix visitors is an attractive programme of side events. It includes diverse themed days, the world-famous Stuttgart Ballet’s performance ahead of the final and photographer Radka Leitmeritz’s works belonging to the Porsche-supported “Court Supremes” art project will also be on exhibit.
The first highlight is a completely new show tournament on Monday, 15 April at 17.00 hrs. It means visitors can watch stars from a variety of sports. Tennis will be represented by the Porsche Brand Ambassador and Grand Slam winner Emma Raducanu and the former world class German player Andrea Petkovic. They will be joined by Porsche Talent Team youngsters. Their doubles partners will be professionals from the VfB Stuttgart and Stuttgarter Kickers (football), MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (basketball) and Bietigheim Steelers (ice hockey) clubs which are all partners of the Porsche “Turbo for Talents” initiative.
Porsche to donate 200 euro for every ace
As a part of the “Aces for Charity” fundraiser, Porsche will donate 200 euro for every ace to its charity partners, “Stiftung Agapedia” and “Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe”. The money will go towards financing educational programmes for refugees, especially children and adolescents from Ukraine.
The 2024 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will start at 11.00 hrs on Saturday, 13 April with qualifying on Courts 1 and 2.
