1988 - 1997

Martina Navratilova (USA) vs. Chris Evert-Mill (USA) 6-2 6-3

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Prize Money: 250,000 US Dollar

All the effort was in vain. At her farewell appearance, Chris Evert, who in the meantime had married skier Andy Mill, was again unable to pull off the coup by beating Martina Navratilova in the final and climbing into the driver’s seat of a Porsche. Like in the year before, the contest was decided by the collector of Porsches. The win this time however came a little more easily. In September the following year, Chris Evert’s career came to an end at the US Open. For nearly 20 years, the American from Florida had graced and shaped the tennis scene: 18 Grand Slam titles, a total of 157 tournament wins, 1304 match wins, almost ten million dollars in prize money all added up to an impressive career. She had also supplied the press with a fair share of gossip including an engagement to fellow tennis player Jimmy Conners, a marriage to the tennis professional John Lloyd and the rivalry with Martina Navratilova which ended in them becoming friends. They all made good stories for the headlines. Together with Andy Mill and her two children she stepped back from the limelight to enjoy a more private life.

Gabriela Sabatini (ARG) vs. Mary Joe Fernandez (USA) 7-6 6-4

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet

Prize Money: 250,000 US Dollar

The spectators longed to see the beautiful Argentine emerge as the winner - and the beautiful Argentine longed for a fiery-red Porsche 944 S2. Gabriela Sabatini, the world No. 3 and the No. 1 seed in Filderstadt duly fulfilled her fans’ and her own longings. The previous year had seen both finalists go out of the tournament at an early stage as Gabriela Sabatini was beaten by Jana Novotna in the first round and Mary Joe Fernandez had to retire in the second round because of a back injury. In 1989, the two highly attractive ladies also served up attractive tennis in the final.

Mary Joe Fernandez (USA) vs. Barbara Paulus (AUT) 6-1 6-3

Winner’s Prize: Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet

Prize Money: 350,000 US Dollar

The guests could relax from the excitement of watching the tournament in a bigger, more attractive and much improved refreshment area. The 1991 main draw included six top 10 players and promised to satisfy even the highest expectations. Last year's champion, Gabriela Sabatini arrived in Filderstadt high on confidence on the back of winning her first Grand Slam after beating Stefanie Graf in the US Open final. Sixteen-year old Monica Seles, eager for action, returned to Filderstadt where, in 1989, she had to retire in the quarterfinals. Zina Garrison, ten years her senior, enjoyed a memorable Wimbledon that summer by reaching the final. However it all turned out quite differently as the Austrian Barbara Paulus caused a surprise by progressing all the way to the final before Mary Joe Fernandez (USA) added a second tournament win to her first ever just before in Tokyo.

Anke Huber (GER) vs. Martina Navratilova (USA) 2-6 6-2 7-6

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 968 Cabriolet

Prize Money: 350,000 US Dollar

Some people say that never before had and never again did spectators celebrate a winner with so much enthusiasm as they did Anke Huber in 1992. Even the fairest spectators may be forgiven for a spot of patriotism. After all, it was the first time they could cheer a German winner at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Anke Huber beat no less a player than Martina Navratilova, for whom, after five tournament wins, the indoor tennis centre in Plattenhardt had become almost like home. However, the German player did not let herself be distracted, she stayed calm and played indefatigably and finally got what she wanted. She had always been labelled as shy, plain and somewhat conventional. And then a new Anke emerged – open, cheerful, with a zest for life and an interest in fashion photography, stylish cars and dancing. After her (first) separation from fellow player Andrej Medwedew, she made a carefree confession: “I am still looking for the love of my life.” For the time being, however, the Porsche would do nicely.

Martina Navratilova (USA) vs. Gabriela Sabatini (ARG) 7-6 6-3

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Prize Money: 350,000 US Dollar

The finals coincided with her 36th birthday – and she gave herself the best present of all: Martina Navratilova won her sixth – and last – title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. A new, grander clubhouse welcomed the players in 1992 with an even nicer atmosphere to relax in between matches. And the local community of Filderstadt had made friends with the world class tournament that descended annually upon Plattenhardt, one of the town’s five districts, and its quiet residential area around the Weilerhau venue like a fascinating and sometimes off-putting spectacle. Dieter Fischer had shaken off many an attack including town hall meetings and the protests of local residents. Despite opposition from some members of the district council, the neighbouring TSV Plattenhardt sports club and a series of arguments with the forestry commission and the association for the protection of the countryside, Dieter Fischer eventually fulfilled his life's work after all.

Mary Pierce (FRA) vs. Natascha Zwerewa (RUS) 6-3 6-3

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupé

Prize Money: 375,000 US Dollar

Mary Pierce came, saw and conquered. Canadian-born, the Frenchwoman took the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix’s Centre Court by storm. In the end, not only the experts were excited: a star had been born. With powerful and accurate serves, hard and flat ground strokes, almost all-out aggression and no preferences or dislikes for the type of surface. In Filderstadt, she celebrated her first tournament win and won a car that suited her temperament perfectly.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a major decision was made: title-sponsor Porsche and the organiser of the tournament, Dieter Fischer, extended their contract beyond 1993 for another four years. This could by no means be taken for granted. Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking had been appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG in October 1992 when the company was encountering some financial difficulties. His brief was to get the sports car manufacturer back on track. Almost simultaneously, Anton Hunger was put in charge of the press and public relations department which funded the Tennis Grand Prix. Those in charge had to consider the company’s social responsibility: is it justifiable to spend money on a tennis tournament at a time when job cuts are inevitable? After carefully weighing up the arguments for and against, they decided in favour of continuing the partnership in the hopeful conviction that it would have a psychologically positive effect and a shot in the arm for both the workforce and the general public. With hindsight, a very wise decision.

Anke Huber (GER) vs. Mary Pierce (FRA) 6-4 6-2

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet

Prize Money: 400,000 US Dollar

Anke Huber was in great form and won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for the second time. The cheering following the German’s win replaced the standing ovation for a player whose parting led to a sense of sorrow filling the air. Three days before her 38th, birthday the hosts and spectators celebrated Martina Navratilova's farewell from the European tennis stage in Filderstadt. The place where one of the greatest sportswomen of the 20th century had won six titles and the hearts of the spectators. Her career record boasts 167 singles tournament wins including 18 Grand Slams and approximately 20 million dollars in prize money. In Filderstadt, the Grande Dame of tennis was known simply as “Martina”. She toasted her fans with a glass of champagne – and host Dieter Fischer thanked her for her loyalty to the tournament by giving her a special farewell present – a Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

Iva Majoli (CRO) vs. Gabriela Sabatini (ARG) 6-4 7-6

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Targa

Prize Money: 430,000 US Dollar

Iva Majoli had just turned 18 and had passed her driving licence just in time – all that is required to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix? No. In order to be able to drive the Porsche 911 Targa off the tennis court herself, the Croatian first had to win a couple of important matches against world class opposition. The commitment of Porsche AG to top-class women’s tennis met with considerable public acclaim amongst Porsche's customers and many others as a survey revealed that 80 percent of all male and female Porsche drivers are interested in tennis or even play the game themselves.

Martina Hingis (SUI) vs. Anke Huber (GER) 6-2 3-6 6-3

Winner’s Prize: Porsche Boxster

Prize Money: 450,000 US Dollar

One has to celebrate when one has the opportunity. The 20th anniversary of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix coincided with the year in which Filderstadt celebrated the victory of a new Martina. Only 17 and still without a driving licence, Martina Hingis fulfilled her mother's dream by winning the latest Porsche model on the market. She also obviously fulfilled her own dream. By winning the Grand Prix, the Swiss broke into the world Top 10 for the first time. The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix also made it to the top as the Women Tennis Association (WTA) voted the event “the world's best women’s tournament”.

Martina Hingis (SUI) vs. Lisa Raymond (USA) 6-4 6-2

Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupé

Prize Money: 450,000 US Dollar

Martina Hingis returned to Filderstadt as a world star and lived up to her reputation as the world’s No. 1 player by winning the tournament for the second time in succession. This time she was allowed to get behind the steering wheel herself. After the television rights had changed hands, for the first time in the history of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the regional Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR) was no longer the host broadcaster but Deutsche Sportfernsehen (DSF), one of Germany’s major sports channels. It all came much to the sorrow of those that saw the Centre Court, as not only being a tennis venue but also a cat-walk. Russian Anna Kournikova, also a highly popular model, lost in the second round against the South African Amanda Coetzer.