Summary Day 9
It was a success Petra Kvitova has had to wait a long time for. In front of a capacity 4,400 crowd in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena on Sunday, the Czech finally won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at her seventh attempt. In a high-class final, she defeated Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-6(2) to earn herself a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet as the main prize. The win has also extended her Porsche Race to Shenzhen lead, the official qualification ranking for the prestigious WTA Finals in the Chinese high-tech metropolis in November.
“This car is a big bonus”
Petra Kvitova has broken the spell. She is the first player on this year’s WTA Tour to win a second title. Her first came in Sydney in January. In the Stuttgart final against the impressive Anett Kontaveit, she had to summon up all her experience to fulfil her dream of a Porsche Tennis Grand Prix win. The left-hander won the first set comfortably and eventually secured the title on her third match point in the second set tiebreak.
“I’ve already lost a few tiebreaks against Anett, so I’m really happy that everything worked out today,” said Petra Kvitova, who has replaced the Romanian Simona Halep as the new world number 2 by winning in Stuttgart. “After failing six times, I’ve finally won this fantastic tournament. This car is a big bonus.”
More information here.
Summary Day 8
A completely new final for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – Petra Kvitova and Anett Kontaveit will meet in the last match this year at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament. At stake will be the main winner’s prize, a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet. In front of 4,300 spectators in the Porsche Arena, the Czech Kvitova overcame Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 in the first semifinal on Saturday. The Estonian Kontaveit profited from a walkover to advance to the final as the second match in the penultimate round could not be played due an injury to Naomi Osaka, the world number 1 from Japan.
Fourth final in 2019 for Petra Kvitova
The road to her fourth final in 2019 was long and arduous. It took all of two hours and one minute for Petra Kvitova to wrap up her semifinal win against Kiki Bertens. At no stage in the match was there any chance of boredom taking hold of the spectators. The crowd were treated to long and, in part, spectacular rallies, even in the third set when the world number 3 was dominating her opponent. The Czech is in good form this season and won the tournament in Sydney at the turn of the year. It is therefore no wonder that she is heading the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, the official ranking for the prestigious WTA Finals in November.
“On clay, I often need a bit of time to find my game. It’s why I was a little amazed that everything went so well for me in the third set,” she said. “I had a good build up to the tournament and it’s now paying off. I’m getting better and better. The match today, in contrast to my quarterfinal, went really well.” When asked about the final against Anett Kontaveit, she said, “We practiced together before the tournament and it was a lot of fun. It’ll definitely be an exciting final. I lost my last two at the Australian Open and in Dubai, so I really want to win tomorrow.”
“I’ve never been in such a situation”
When Anett Kontaveit discovered at midday that she had been given a walkover and was in the final, she was both surprised and happy. “It was obviously something I never expected and I can’t remember ever being in such a situation,” said the Estonian, the world number 15. “I just can’t say whether it’ll be an advantage or disadvantage. Petra is a great player, but I also know that if I play well then I can live with the best.”
Naomi Osaka forced to withdraw
The first semifinal in the Porsche Arena was still to begin but the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix had lost its number 1 player as Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw due to an abdominal injury she had incurred in her quarterfinal match on Friday when she sensationally came back to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic.
“I would have loved to have played here but it simply wasn’t possible,” said the visibly downhearted Japanese player. “When I woke up today, I could only roll out of bed. So, I decided I unfortunately wasn’t able to play. Stuttgart has given me a boost for the clay court season. I’m happy I won two games and I would like to say a big thank-you to the fans that supported me so fantastically.”
Naomi Osaka's withdrawal also came as a shock to Tournament Director Günthardt. “It’s naturally sad for any tournament to lose a semifinal, especially for the spectators. We certainly didn’t have much luck this week but it’s an indication of the quality of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix that we still had excellent matches of the highest quality. The Porsche Arena was full and there was a wonderful atmosphere, it speaks for the tournament. I’m sure we’re in store for a top-class final on Sunday.”
Mona Barthel and Anna-Lena Friedsam in doubles final
Two Porsche Team Germany players will grace the doubles final - Mona Barthel and Anna-Lena Friedsam will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) and Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic).
Summary Day 7
Naomi Osaka, Anett Kontaveit, Petra Kvitova and Kiki Bertens – the four world class players will do battle on Saturday for a place in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final. 4,400 spectators in the Porsche Arena, which was once again sold out, were treated on Friday to thrilling and hard-fought quarterfinal matches – and saw the last appearance of the Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber at the 42nd edition of the long-standing Stuttgart tournament.
Angelique Kerber exits
“I’m naturally disappointed but I there’s nothing I have to be sorry about. I gave it my all and left everything I had out there on court,” said Angelique Kerber after her two-set 6-3, 6-4 loss against Kiki Bertens. For a while in the second set, it seemed as if the Wimbledon winner might turn the match around but whatever she attempted, the strong-serving opponent always had an answer. With the defeat still fresh on her mind, Angelique Kerber nevertheless looked forward towards the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year. “I’ll give myself a couple of days off to return to full fitness and will hone my clay court tennis in the lead-up to Paris. That’s the plan.”
After first-round losses in both 2017 and 2018, reaching the semifinal this year is the biggest success ever for Kiki Bertens at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The Dutchwoman will now play the Czech Petra Kvitova.
Petra Kvitova made to work hard
It was not an easy day at the office for Petra Kvitova. The world number 3 and leader of the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, the official qualification ranking for the prestigious WTA Finals in November, was forced to dig deep in the day’s first encounter. Anastasija Sevastova proved to be the expected tough opponent and forced the favourite to pull out all the stops when winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Latvian raced into a 4-0 first set lead and all Petra Kvitova could do was watch and applaud her opponent’s shots. “I have no idea when I last started a match so badly,” said the Czech after advancing to the semifinals. “I made too many mistakes and Anastasija hardly made any.” The two-time Wimbledon winner took the second set relatively easily and although Anastasija Sevastova was not going to lie down in the third, she was unable to put the Czech under any real pressure.
The reward for all the hard work is a third semifinal appearance in Stuttgart. Kvitova has never gone any further in the Porsche Arena, something she will want to redress on Saturday. She is however well aware that if she wants to win the tournament “then I’m going to have play better or it’s not going to happen”.
Naomi Osaka wins tennis thriller
There was a sensation in the air in the Porsche Arena. The second quarterfinal between the two youngest players (Osaka is 21, Vekic 22) left in the tournament had long become a real thriller. Naomi Osaka, the world No. 1 from Japan, looked to be heading for defeat when 5-1 down in the third and final set against the Croatian Donna Vekic, the number 25. However, the two-time Grand Slam champion clawed her way back into the match to force a tiebreak which she clinched 7-4 on her second match point. On the edge of their seats for much of the final set, there was nothing holding the spectators there anymore and the Porsche Arena was turned into a mad-house.
“I was obviously in trouble when I was so far behind in the third set. But I didn’t want to regret anything afterwards,” said Naomi Osaka. “It’s why I fought and tried to be consistent. I wanted to have good memories of this tournament.”
Her opponent in the semifinal is Anett Kontaveit. The Estonian profited in the last quarterfinal match of the evening from the retirement due to injury of her opponent Victoria Azarenka with the score at 5-7, 7-5, 3-0.
Summary Day 6
A highly-enthusiastic audience and enthralling matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – the capacity 4,400 crowd in the Porsche Arena certainly got their money’s worth on Thursday. They saw the successful return of Naomi Osaka as the new number 1 on Centre Court and an impressive campaign opener for Porsche Team Ger-many’s Angelique Kerber. With the exception of the title-holder Karolina Pliskova, all the favourites have safely negotiated their way to the quarterfinals and are still in the running for the main prize – a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet.
Angelique Kerber wins duel against her good friend
A heartfelt embrace at the net and rapturous applause from the stands – a fitting end to the all-German duel between Andrea Petkovic and Angelique Kerber in the Porsche Arena on Thursday evening. The good friends, who both play for Porsche Team Germany, had previously produced a remorseless 74-minute battle won by the reigning Wimbledon champion. The plucky Andrea Petkovic was able to fend off three match points before eventually succumbing to the favourite Angelique Kerber, who advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
More information in the press release.
Summary Day 5
Wednesday was a thrilling day at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. It contained an impressive comeback from the Swiss Belinda Bencic and the first appearance of Petra Kvitova, the world No. 3 from the Czech Republic, in the Porsche Arena. Thursday’s play however promises even greater things as the Japanese Naomi Osaka will enter the fray and Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic will face each other in an all-German duel. It all will have no bearing on Julia Görges as the 2011 Stuttgart winner was forced to retire with a neck injury much to the disappointment of the 4,000 spectators.
More information in the press release.
Summary Day 4
Andrea Petkovic and Laura Siegemund left their indelible marks on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday. In front another large crowd in the Porsche Arena, they both comfortably won their opening matches. Anna-Lena Friedsam however failed to progress to the second round of the world class tournament. After putting up stiff resistance against Kiki Bertens, the Top 10 player from the Netherlands, she eventually succumbed in two hard-fought sets. On Wednesday, Julia Görges has the chance to join her Porsche Team Germany teammates in the last 16.
“The crowd’s support was fantastic”
Andrea Petkovic was in excellent spirits. “It’s so good to be back playing here,” said the overjoyed German after her first-round win against Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain). After taking the first set, it became obvious “that I’m a bit tired after the Fed Cup over the weekend”, but the spectators in the Porsche Arena carried her to a 6-4 second set. “I’ve been looking forward to the tournament for weeks. The crowd’s support was fantastic.”
After missing out on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in the last two years, the current world No. 71 has high expectations for Stuttgart: “I’m not so far off from playing my best tennis. First the win in the Fed Cup and now the one here – it could well be the breakthrough for me.” However, her next match in the last 16 will be anything but easy as awaiting her on Thursday is her friend and compatriot Angelique Kerber. The double Stuttgart winner has taken the place of Simona Halep, who had to withdraw with a hip injury, at the bottom of the draw. It means she now has a first-round bye.
Laura Siegemund also in last 16
Laura Siegemund’s performance against the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko was no less impressive that the one Andrea Petkovic produced. Right from the very first rally, the 2017 winner and local hero manoeuvred her opponent around the court putting her real pressure. The Stuttgart resident soon closed out a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win on her second match point. Speaking after the match, she said, “I’m happy and proud that I was fully concentrated from the first ball. I’ve had a rather mediocre season up until now, perhaps this tournament is more up my street. She followed up by praising the crowd in the Porsche Arena: “It’s a lot of fun playing in this atmosphere.”
Laura Siegemund will now meet Anastasija Sevastova in the last 16 after the Latvian defeated her compatriot Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. Also in round two is Daria Kasatkina (Russia) who won 7-6(8), 7-5 against Elise Mertens (Belgium). Greet Minnen (Belgium) was a surprise 7-5, 6-3 victor against Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) and will be back on court on Wednesday – against of all people Petra Kvitova. The Czech is the world No. 3 and the leader of the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, the qualifying ranking for the prestigious WTA Finals for the season’s eight most successful players.
More information in the press release.
Summary Day 3
The spectators in the Porsche Arena celebrated the first winner at the 42nd Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: on Monday evening, Jelena Ostapenko won the Turkish Airlines Tiebreak which thrilled the fans on the first day of the tournament proper with an attractive mixture of sport and show. After beating the Swiss Belinda Bencic in the final, she secured herself one million bonus miles from Turkish Airlines.
After the thrilling tournament in tournament and the qualifying finals, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will pick up pace on Tuesday when the first main draw singles matches are played.
Anna-Lena Friedsam books a main draw ticket
In the qualifying tournament by virtue of a wild card, she is now in the main draw: Porsche Team Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam won her qualifying final 6-4, 6-4 against the Czech Tereza Smitkova and has thus completed a German quintet at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “I’m so happy to have made it to the main draw at this fantastic tournament,” said the 25-year old who plays in the top German league for the local TEC Waldau Stuttgart club. “Immediately in the year’s first tournaments, I felt I was in pretty good form after my long injury break. Now I want to go as far as I possibly can.” It will not be easy as she will face Kiki Bertens, the world No. 7 from the Netherlands, in her opening match on Tuesday.
Turkish Airlines Tiebreak
911 Carrera S: Fuel consumption combined 8.9 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions 205 g/km
The second German hope in the qualifying finals, Anna Zaja, however narrowly missed out on a place in the main draw. After winning the first set 6-1 and losing the second by the same score, she was 5-2 up in the decider. However, the Spaniard fought her way back to eventually win the enthralling match in the tiebreak. She is now Andrea Petkovic’s opponent in the first round of the tournament proper. Also in the main draw are Mandy Minella (Luxembourg), who beat Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, and Greet Minnen (Belgium), who overcame Giulia Gatto-Monticone (Italy) 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2.
More information in the press release.
Summary Day 2
The last four Porsche Tennis Grand Prix main draw berths will be issued in the qualifying finals on Monday, and two German players have a good chance of progressing. Local heroes Anna Zaja and Anna-Lena Friedsam both produced impressive performances when advancing on Sunday.
Teammates go toe-to-toe
Returning to the game after a long injury, Anna Lena Friedsam was only in the qualifying draw after being given a wild card. Now the Porsche Team Germany player is a single win away from a main draw ticket. On Sunday, she defeated her teammate Antonia Lottner in an enthralling three-setter 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(1). The first set was won comfortably by Friedsam but Lottner came back to secure the second in equally convincing fashion. There was then little choose between the two in the third which went to a tiebreak that Friedsam, who reached the last 16 of the long-standing tournament in 2016, clinched after a match lasting almost two hours. The 25-year old will now face Tereza Smitkova (Czech Republic) who won 7-6(6), 6-3 against Jessika Ponchet (France).
Anna Zaja has also battled her way to the qualifying finals. Playing impressive tennis, she overcame Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-3, 7-5. The 27-year old can now only be stopped on the way to the main draw by Sara Sorribes Tormo. The Spaniard encountered little trouble in defeating Ekaterine Gorgodze (Georgia) 6-2, 6-2.
Another player with the main draw firmly in her sights is Vera Zvonareva. Once ranked in the Top 10, the Russian was a clear 6-2, 6-1 winner against Isabella Shinikova (Bulgaria). She will now face Mandy Minella for a place amongst the top 28 players in Stuttgart. The Luxembourger beat Anna Kalinskaya (Russia) 7-5, 6-1. The fourth final will be contested by Giulia Gatto-Monticone (Italy) and Greet Minnen (Belgium). Gatto-Monticone downed Magdalena Frech (Poland) 6-4, 6-4 whilst Minnen progressed at the expense of Anna Blinkova (Russia) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Angelique Kerber: first practice session in the Porsche Arena
The Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber is on the road to recovery. After missing the Fed Cup over the weekend because of illness, the reigning Wimbledon champion and two-time Stuttgart winner absolved her first practice session on Centre Court in the Porsche Arena early on Sunday evening.
More information in the press release.
Summary Day 1
Three Germans are still in with a chance of being a part of the main
draw at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament: Anna Zaja, Antonia Lottner and Anna-Lena Friedsam all won their first-round qualifying matches on Saturday. The draw for the tournament proper at the same time promises many top class and exciting duels in the Porsche Arena.
Qualification: Anna-Lena Friedsam causes a surprise
The qualifying tournament at the 42nd Porsche Tennis Grand Prix started with three German wins: local hero Anna Zaja from the TEC Waldau Stuttgart club won in two hard-fought sets against Valentini Grammatikopoulou (Greece) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8). Her next opponent in the second round on Sunday will be Bernarda Pera (USA).
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Compatriot Antonia Lottner had little trouble in beating Paula Ormaechea (Argentina) 6-1, 6-1 and will now meet Anna-Lena Friedsam, a Porsche Team Germany teammate. Friedsam won her first match 7-5, 6-2 against Ekaterina Alexandrova to cause a surprise as the Russian, the world No. 57, was the highest ranked player in qualifying.
The main draw: two Grand Slam winners go head-to-head
The drawing of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix main draw promises high-tension in the first round. Four Porsche Team Germany players will have their work cut immediately in their opening matches. The reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber will face Donna Vekic (Croatia) and Julia Görges has been drawn to play the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Wild card holder Laura Siegemund will meet Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) for a place in the last 16. A qualifier awaits Andrea Petkovic. High tension in particular is promised by the duel between two Grand Slam winners and former world No. 1s – Garbiñe Muguruza (Spain) versus Victoria Azarenka (Belarus).
More information in the press release.
Preview of the tournament
Headed by the Japanese shooting star Naomi Osaka, the new number 1, eight Top 10 stars plus the Top 8 of the Porsche Race to Shenzhen ranking will compete for prize money totaling 662,000 euro. The winner will additionally receive a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet as the main prize.
All the current Grand Slam winners will be appearing in Stuttgart
For the first time since 2012, all the current Grand Slam winners will be appearing in Stuttgart: Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and then the Australian Open in 2019, will be joined by the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber (Germany/number 8) as the 2018 Wimbledon champion and Simona Halep (Romania/number 2), the winner of last year’s French Open. The ensemble of Top 10 stars in the high-class field is completed by Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic /number 3), the leader in the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, Sloane Stephens (USA/number 4), title-holder Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic/number 5) plus Elina Svitolina (Ukraine/number 6), who triumphed at the 2018 WTA Finals, and Kiki Bertens (Netherlands/number 7). In addition to the two-time Porsche Tennis Grand Prix winner Kerber (2015, 2016), three other former Stuttgart winners – Julia Görges (Germany/2011), Maria Sharapova (Russia/2012, 2013, 2014) and wildcard holder Laura Siegemund (Germany/2017) – will also be competing. Another wildcard holder, Andrea Petkovic (Germany) will also be in the main draw of the WTA Tour’s Premier 700 event.
“We’re delighted we can once again offer our audience such a fantastic field containing all the current Grand Slam winners and eight of the world’s Top 10 players. For me, it’s a guarantee for exciting and high-class matches,” said Tournament Director Markus Günthardt. Anke Huber, the Operating Tournament Director, is particularly looking forward to Naomi Osaka: “For us it’s a special honor that she, the new world number 1 and momentarily the most interesting player on the WTA Tour, has decided to come to our tournament.”
Two other Grand Slam winners will also be appearing at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, namely the Spaniard Garbine Muguruza (2016 French Open, 2017 Wimbledon) and the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (2017 French Open). Fans in Stuttgart can also look forward to the Russian Daria Kasatkina, one of 2018’s most improved players, the Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia and the Swiss Belinda Bencic, who in February celebrated an impressive return to the top of the women’s game when winning the 2.8 million-dollar tournament in Dubai.
The schedule
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix begins on Saturday, April 20 at 10.00 am (all times are CET) with the qualification which will continue on Sunday, April 21 from 11.00 am. Montag, April 22’s schedule, which begins at 11.30 am, includes the qualification finals and the first main draw matches. The start of play from Tuesday, April 23 to Thursday, April 25 is at 11.30 am. The first quarterfinal commences on Friday, April 26 at 1.30 pm. On Saturday, April 27, the first semifinal will start at 3.30 pm and the second at 6.30 pm. The doubles final is scheduled for Sunday, April 28 at and will be followed by the singles final at 4.00 pm.
Live on TV
From Monday to Sunday, the most attractive matches at the 42nd Porsche Tennis Grand Prix can be viewed on the long-time TV partners SWR and Eurosport as well as on the streaming channel DAZN. The final on Sunday, April 28 will be shown live by the SWR regional broadcaster. Should a German reach the final then it will be transmitted by the national ARD channel. At the start of the week on Monday, April 22, Eurosport will televise the Turkish Airlines Tiebreak live from 6.30 pm. Every Centre Court match can be viewed as a livestream in DAZN. The n-tv news channel will broadcast the day’s highlights from Thursday, April 25.
Ticket info
Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are available at Easy Ticket Service (Tel: +49 711 255 55 55) or online at www.easyticket.de.
Porsche and tennis
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix forms the spearhead of the sportscar maker’s successful involvement in women’s tennis. Held for the first time in 1978, it quickly developed into one of the showcase tournaments on the worldwide WTA Tour. As a Premium Partner of the “Deutsche Tennis Bund” (German Tennis Association), Porsche has been supporting the Porsche Team Germany in the Fed Cup since 2012 and fosters up-and coming players within the Porsche Talent Team set-up. The world class players Maria Sharapova, Angelique Kerber and Julia Görges all represent the company as Brand Ambassadors. As a part of its successful partnership with the WTA, Porsche is the title partner of the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, the official qualification ranking for the WTA Finals that will take place for the first time in the modern metropolis in south-east China from October 27 to November 3 2019. Porsche is the exclusive automotive partner of the WTA and WTA Finals as well as the automotive partner of the WTA tournaments in St. Petersburg (Russia) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
The entry list
Osaka, Naomi (JPN, WTA Ranking 1)
Halep, Simona (ROU, WTA Ranking 2)
Kvitova, Petra (CZE, WTA Ranking 3)
Pliskova, Karolina (CZE, WTA Ranking 5)
Bertens, Kiki (NED, WTA Ranking 7)
Kerber, Angelique (GER, WTA Ranking 8)
Sevastova, Anastasija (LAT, WTA Ranking 11)
Kasatkina, Daria (RUS, WTA Ranking 14)
Görges, Julia (GER, WTA Ranking 15)
Mertens, Elise (BEL, WTA Ranking 16)
Wang, Qiang (CHN, WTA Ranking 18)
Garcia, Caroline (FRA, WTA Ranking 19)
Muguruza, Garbine (ESP, WTA Ranking 20)
Kontaveit, Anett (EST, WTA Ranking 21)
Ostapenko, Jelena (LAT, WTA Ranking 22)
Bencic, Belinda (SUI, WTA Ranking 23)
Collins, Danielle (USA, WTA Ranking 25)
Vekic, Donna (CRO, WTA Ranking 26)
Hsieh, Su-Wie (TPE, WTA Ranking 27)
Petkovic, Andrea** (GER, WTA Ranking 68)
Siegemund, Laura** (GER, WTA Ranking 105)
* Top 20 Wildcard
** Wildcard
Consumption data
911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet: Fuel consumption combined 9.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 207 g/km
718 Boxster GTS: Fuel consumption combined 8.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 195 g/km
911 Carrera S: Fuel consumption combined 8.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 205 g/km
