Elena Rybakina celebrates first win
Premiere for Elena Rybakina: the Kazakh has crowned herself as the new tennis queen of Stuttgart after winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for the first time. The final of the tournament featuring a top-class field including eight Top 10 players and nine Grand Slam champions was won by the world No. 4 against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
Boasting a world-class line-up, the 47th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix offered its spectators thrilling matches with spectacular rallies right from the start. Attendance was huge – the Porsche Arena was sold out on four days. Visitors were also given full value for their money. On Wednesday alone, there were 13 hours of top-class tennis. “This year’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was outstanding in every sense. We’re very happy and satisfied,” said Tournament Director Markus Günthardt. The Operating Tournament Director Anke Huber raved: “I’ve never seen such good tennis here.”
More than 31,000 people attended the tennis week of superlatives in the Porsche Arena. Eight Top 10 players – five reached the quarterfinals – were competing and there were three Grand Slam champions in the semifinals. The spectators were treated almost daily to enthralling matches lasting late into the evening. Markus Günthardt: “We have enjoyed world class tennis on the courts and, off-court, our programme of side events has set high standards.”
A Taycan 4S Sport Turismo for the winner
In the final, Elena Rybakina took just over an hour to secure the win and the main prize, a Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo. After beating three Top 10 players, her opponent Marta Kostyuk, the world No. 26, was the surprise package of the tournament. Against the 2022 Wimbledon champion, who dominated the rallies with her powerful groundstrokes from the first point, she however eventually ran out of energy. For her fans in the stands, she was nevertheless a winner in their hearts.
“For me, it’s been a very good start to the clay-court season. I hope it’ll continue in the same way,” said the overjoyed winner Elena Rybakina who received the winner’s trophy from Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “It was an amazing week here in Stuttgart. I’m already looking forward to coming back next year.”
She now wants to pass her driving test in time for next April. Should she successfully defend her title in 2025, she will then be able to drive the winner’s Porsche herself onto Centre Court after the final.
“One of the world’s best tournaments”
The giant killer Marta Kostyuk – she knocked out three Top 10 players during the tournament, survived three three-set matches and stood a total of 11-and-a-half hours on court – also wants to compete at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “For me, it’s one of the world’s best tournaments,” she said. “I definitely want to come back as there’s nothing more painful than losing a final where there’s a Porsche at stake.”
The doubles in the Porsche Arena was won by Hao-Ching Chan (Taipei) and Veronika Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3,10-2 against Ulrikke Eikeri (Norway) and her partner Ingrid Neel (Estonia)
Laura Siegemund shines in the doubles
Playing for the first time in Germany after giving birth, Angelique Kerber was given a very warm welcome by the crowd. The two-time Stuttgart winner however lost the all-Porsche Brand Ambassador first round encounter against the Briton Emma Raducanu. Like Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund, the exhausting trip to Brazil for the Billie Jean King Cup had taken its toll. Tatjana Maria lost her opening match in three sets to the Belgian Elise Mertens. Laura Siegemund was the one that appeared to have got over arduous journey best of all. After an impressive performance, the local hero lost her singles against the eventual runner-up Marta Kostyuk. She did however shine playing alongside her new partner Barbora Krejcikova in the doubles. It was a shame she had to pull out of the semifinals with a back injury.
From a German point of view, Ella Seidel and Nastasja Schunk caught the eye as the Porsche Talent Team players knocked out the top-seeded title holders when reaching their first ever WTA quarterfinals.
Highly diverse range of side events
The audience was “warmed up” for the final by an enthralling performance danced by the world-famous Stuttgart Ballet. Composing fascinating images, the dancers presented an extract from Roman Novitzky’s piece titled “Under the Surface”. The pleasure for the senses was the cultural highlight of the attractive programme of side events that the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix offered its visitors once again this year. Photographer Radka Leitmeritz’s Porsche-supported “Court Supremes” art project also sparked great interest.
A success was also the Aces for Charity fundraiser whereby Porsche donated 60,000 euro to charitable causes.
Eurosport and DAZN: 39 matches live
All those not able to watch the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix live in the Porsche Arena also hardly missed a rally: Eurosport and DAZN, the tournament’s strong TV partners, televised a total of 39 matches live from Centre Court. Overall, live coverage from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Germany amounted to 74 hours. Worldwide, it was broadcast in over 100 countries.
