Sandrine Testud (FRA) vs. Lindsay Davenport (USA) 7-5 6-3
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
Prize Money: 450,000 US Dollar
Host Dieter Fischer celebrated his 60th birthday. Much to his delight, Stefanie Graf entered the Grand Prix for the first time since 1985 but a hand injury thwarted her comeback in Filderstadt. Professor Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, the Grand Prix's great friend and sponsor, died. He last visited the event in 1996 when he handed over the prize - a Boxster - to the young Martina Hingis. His seat in the stand remained empty.
Martina Hingis (SUI) vs. Mary Pierce (FRA) 6-4 6-1
Winner’s Prize: Porsche Boxster S
Prize Money: 500,000 US Dollar
Sometimes it is not only spectacular tennis that thrills spectators. It happened in the first changeover of the final between Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce when the crowd applauded a fellow player sitting in the VIP box next to Porsche chairman Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking. A few weeks after retiring from tournament tennis, Stefanie Graf came to Filderstadt to watch the tournament. Martina Hingis raised her racket in the direction of her former rival as if to say, “Come down, do you want to play for me?” Stefanie Graf laughed and refused the offer. She had in the meantime established herself as a keen observer of the sport she had so dominated for over a decade. The final was over in no time at all. Martina Hingis seemed to be in a hurry to win her third Porsche at her sixth appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. And yet later she claimed, “I’ve become more patient."
Martina Hingis (SUI) vs. Kim Clijsters (BEL) 6-0 6-3
Winner’s Prize: Porsche Boxster S
Prize Money: 535,000 US Dollar
A star was born in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – Kim Clijsters. The 17-year old will never forget Filderstadt saying, “I had a great time during that week and now I finally know what it feels like to be in the finals of a big tournament.” The one defeat was therefore easy to take. Once against the star of the show was Martina Hingis. Easier than ever before, the Swiss raced to the finals where she secured the Porsche Boxster S. The winner politely requested, "May I swap the Boxster for a Carrera please?” No problem, at Porsche cars naturally come with a right to exchange.
Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. Justine Henin (BEL) 7-5 6-4
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Targa
Prize Money: 565,000 US Dollar
With the best draw in history, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix celebrated its 25th anniversary. Martina Navratilova made an emotional but short-lived comeback partnering Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. Anke Huber was given a standing ovation after her quarterfinal loss against Justine Henin. It was the final appearance of the two-time tournament winner as a player in Filderstadt. Shortly afterwards, she retired at the WTA Championships in Munich. Though Jennifer Capriati became the new world No 1 in Filderstadt, it was Lindsay Davenport who took the title. The American beat Justine Henin in the final before taking a seat in her new Porsche 911 Targa. On the way to the win, she had to overcome a main draw field containing 16 of the top 20.
Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Winner’s Prize: Porsche Boxster S
Prize Money: 625,000 US Dollar
A new era began with the 26th edition of the tournament. Title-sponsor Porsche took over as organisers. The previous organiser, Dieter Fischer, handed over the tournament due to reasons of age to the Dr. Ing. h.c. Porsche AG which secured the future of the event. It was a friendly takeover and Porsche firmly intended to preserve the charming character and the top class tennis played at the tournament so loved by spectators and players alike. The only noticeable change was applauded by the world of sports. The two-time tournament winner, Anke Huber, returned to her favourite tournament one year after the end of her glittering career as the Operating Tournament Director. “World class” was the compliment paid to the organisers, Porsche by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) – and the competitive side of the tournament was of the same standard: 17 of the world's top 20 players were in the 2002 line-up. After an historic semifinal win against the Frenchwoman, Amélie Mauresmo, the Belgian, Kim Clijsters battled her way to the tournament win in an excellent final against the elegant Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia).
Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) 5-7 6-4 6-2
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet
Prize Money: 650,000 US Dollar
After two hours and 11 minutes, Kim Clijsters beat Justine Henin-Hardenne in the all-Belgian final. In doing so, the 20-year old had not only defended her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix but she had also fended off her compatriot, who had set out to topple her from her position as the World No. 1. During the course of the tournament that, with 18 of the world’s top 20 competing, had the best main draw field of the year’s WTA events, the Spaniard Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, the 1992 and 1995 doubles winner, bid her “favourite crowd” and “favourite tournament” farewell at a moving ceremony on Centre Court.
Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 6-2, ret.
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupé
Prize Money: 650,000 US Dollar
In 2004, there was again a showdown between the reigning world No 1 and the world No 2 as Amélie Mauresmo (France) faced Lindsay Davenport (USA) in the final. The final lasted only 40 minutes. The world No 2 Lindsay Davenport won as the Frenchwoman retired hurt – pulled thigh muscle – with the score at 6-2 in the American’s favour. In the previous 21 years, there had only been such a top class final on European soil on five occasions. Porsche Tennis Grand Prix’s spectators were party to a final between the world’s top two players in 2003 and 2004.
Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 6-2, 6-4
Winner’s Prize: Porsche Cayman S
Prize Money: 650,000 US Dollar
Jubilee for Lindsay Davenport as a 6-2, 6-4 win the final against Amélie Mauresmo gave the American her 50th career WTA title. In one hour and six minutes she repeated her previous year’s victory against the Frenchwoman who however had been forced to retire injured. For the world No 2, it was her third win at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix after being successful in 2001 and 2004. The big worldwide media interest in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is documented by the large number of 160 accredited journalists who reported from the tournament.
Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Tatiana Golovin (FRA) 6-3, 7-6
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Targa 4S
Prize Money: 650,000 US Dollar
“At last I can drive as fast as I serve,” Nadia Petrova was obviously taken with the new Porsche 911 Targa 4S she had won as the winner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. In a thrilling final, the Russian defeated France’s tennis ace, Tatiana Golovin, 6-3; 7-6 in the sold-out Porsche Arena. The victory enabled her to return to the world’s elite after a period beset with injury problems. She warmly praised the successful premiere of the time-honoured tournament in the new Porsche Arena: “The tournament is by far the best I’ve ever played. I have enjoyed every single match here.”
Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Tatiana Golovin (FRA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
Winner’s Prize: Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
Prize Money: 650,000 US Dollar
Justine Henin, the world No 1 from Belgium, was also the No 1 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. She won the final against Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in front of a capacity crowd in the Porsche Arena. “I’ve finally won the Porsche at my third attempt,” said the favourite, who had already appeared in the 2001 and 2003 finals. After surprisingly dropping the first set, she kicked in the turbo in the second and turned the match around. Tatiana Golovin, last year’s runner-up, proved to be a fair loser afterwards: “I wasn’t good enough today for the Porsche. But I’ll definitely be back in 2008. Perhaps it’ll be third time lucky for me too.”
