Finals
Iga Swiatek is Stuttgart’s new tennis queen. The 20-year-old world No. 1 was an easy 6-2, 6-2 winner against last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The victory has duly secured her a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. Playing in front of a 4,400-capacity crowd in the Porsche Arena, the Pole, who was making her debut at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament, was dominant throughout. Despite the energy-sapping three-hour semifinal the day before, she was hitting powerfully and going for her shots right from the start against the world No. 4. With the match only 84 minutes old, she converted her third match point.
For Iga Swiatek, who had previously won the tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami, the triumph in Stuttgart is her fourth title in succession. The all-conquering player momentarily on the WTA Tour has now extended her winning run to an impressive 23 matches. “I was so consistent, and I needed to be after the yesterday’s exhausting match. I was pretty tired which is why I had to stay focussed and try to expend as little energy as possible. It worked out well, also thanks to the magnificent atmosphere in the arena. I now know why all the players on the Tour say this tournament is one of the best,” said Iga Swiatek.
More information is available in the press release.
Day 8
Tantalising final at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will go head-to-head on Sunday for the win at the 45th edition of the long-standing Stuttgart tournament, and the main prize, a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. The 4,150 spectators in the almost sold-out Porsche Arena generated a magnificent atmosphere on semifinals Saturday, one that also impressed Aryna Sabalenka: “The fans make this tournament so special. Thanks for the super atmosphere.”
She was speaking only moments after defeating Spaniard Paula Badosa in two enthralling sets, 7-6, 6-4 to qualify for the final of the WTA 500 tournament. “It was an extremely tough match against a very good opponent in which I had trouble finding my rhythm at first. Then when I was a break down, I told myself that I didn’t have anything to lose. And then I really did start to feel better from point to point,” said Aryna Sabalenka after the match against her good friend Paula Badosa. In the first set, the two Top 5 players both slugged it out producing some spectacular rallies before last year’s runner up eventually prevailed. “You get mentally stronger with every win. It’s happening this week. Now I’d like to go on and win the Porsche.”
More information is available in the press release.
Day 7
Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka, Liudmila Samsonova and Iga Swiatek are the four top players that will be battling on Saturday for a place in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final. The 3,550 spectators in the Porsche Arena witnessed hard-fought and enthralling quarterfinal matches on Friday. Laura Siegemund’s dream of a second Stuttgart title after 2017 is however over as the local hero was beaten 7-5, 6-3 by Liudmila Samsonova. Also no longer in the running is the Porsche Brand Ambassador Emma Raducanu (Great Britain) after she lost 6-4, 6-4 to the world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
“Normally frustration is the overriding feeling after such a defeat. It’s not the case today. There were many good points to my game that I can build upon,” said Laura Siegemund, who bid farewell from her home tournament with lots of positives: “It was a first step on the long road back after injury. I first want to get back into the Top 100. It’s my big goal. But I’d like to take one step after the other.”
More information is available in the press release.
Day 6
A real buzz in the crowd and tight matches on the courts where six Top 10 players were in last 16 action at the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The 2,500 spectators in the Porsche Arena all got their money’s worth and still have high hopes of a German tournament winner. Though Laura Siegemund, who won the Stuttgart title in 2017, profited from the retirement of the world No. 5 Maria Sakkari (Greece), she had performed very impressively right up until the premature end. Also in the last eight is the Briton Emma Raducanu. The Porsche Brand Ambassador encountered more problems than initially expected against the German Tamara Korpatsch, but remains in contention for the main prize, a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo.
“I played an extremely good match. It’s not the way you want to win as it’s not so nice as winning in two normal straight sets. But against an injured top player, you still have to play at the top of your game,” said Laura Siegemund after reaching the quarterfinals. “My intention was to play very aggressively and quickly dominate the rallies. Even though I made one or two mistakes, my level of play was pretty good.” On Friday, the Porsche Team Germany player will face Liudmila Samsonova who she knows quite well. “We’ve practiced a lot together. It she gets out of bed on the right side, then she’s going to be really difficult opponent. Hopefully, it won’t be that way tomorrow.”
More information is available in the press release.
Day 5
Spectacular rallies, thrilled spectators and numerous top stars – the fifth day of the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was quite something. In front of an enthusiastic 2,550 crowd, local hero Laura Siegemund played a big part in everything as the Porsche Team Germany player beat the Slovenian Tamara Zidansek in the last match of the day. Things did not go quite so well for the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber who lost a tight three-setter against the world No. 6 Anett Kontaveit from Estonia. The winner of the long-standing Stuttgart tournament will receive a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo.
“It was a tough match which unfortunately didn’t quite go my way again. I’ve now lost my last matches in three sets. It hurts,” said Angelique Kerber after the 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat. “In the end two, three points were again decisive – unfortunately not for me and I’m obviously a little disappointed.” The winner was full of praise for the two-time Stuttgart winner: “She played some good tennis and was very aggressive. Luckily enough I started to find my rhythm in the second set and adapted better and better to the clay court.”
More information is available in the press release.
Day 4
The numerous spectators in the Porsche Arena did not have to wait long for the first major upset at the 45th edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Straight away in the first match of the day on Centre Court, Eva Lys exceeded herself when reaching the second round. In a thriller lasting three hours and nine minutes, the 20-year-old Porsche Talent Team player defeated the Swiss Viktorija Golubic 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 to post the biggest win of her still young career.
“The match finished 90 minutes ago and I’m still shaking. Winning my first WTA match is a brilliant feeling,” said the reigning German champion who made her first ever appearance in a WTA main draw after winning twice in qualifying. “I practice a lot at the nearby Stuttgart-Stammheim tennis centre, and it has always been my dream to play this tournament. I could hardly sleep last night, I was so nervous. But I knew, if I played my own game then I’d have a good chance. The crowd gave me loads of energy and I’m so incredibly grateful that so many tennis fans turned up to watch my match today.”
Eva Lys will be back on court on Wednesday against of all people the Pole Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1. It a challenge that is right up her street. “I knew that I’d have to play Iga if I won. It was great motivation on top. I’m so looking forward to playing her. It’s going to be a good chance to find out what I’m capable of,” she said. “This week is showing me that I’m on the right track. I’ll go out on court and try to enjoy every second. I’ve got absolutely nothing to lose.”
More information is available in the press release.
Day 3
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix picked up speed on Easter Monday when the main draw matches got underway. In the first singles on Centre Court, Ekaterina Alexandrova eventually overcame the Chinese Shuai Zhang in two hard-fought sets that both went to a tie-break. Liudmila Samsonova afterwards had little trouble in defeating the French qualifier Chloe Paquet 6-0, 6-0. The day’s first match was a doubles in which the first time pairing of Viktorija Golubic/Marketa Vondrousova (Switzerland/Czech Republic) were easy 6-3, 6-1 winners against Ulrikke Eikeri and Alexandra Panova. The action on the first day of the tournament proper was brought to a close by a stand-out doubles containing three Top 10 singles players. Paula Badosa (Spain/No. 3) and Aryna Sabalenka (No. 4), last year’s singles runner-up, won 7-5, 7-5 against Ons Jabeur (Tunisia/No. 10) and Ellen Perez (Australia).
After the opening main draw encounters, the top stars will be entering the tournament fray on Tuesday. Having battled their way through qualifying to gain a main draw berth at the long-standing tournament where there is a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo at stake for the winner, two Porsche Talent Team players have some serious work ahead of them. Right away in the first match of the day on Centre Court at 12.30 pm, Eva Lys will take on the Swiss Viktorija Golubic. Nastasja Schunk will face one of the tournament’s top players – Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan who is world-ranked No. 19 and therefore 205 positions ahead of the German. The match is scheduled for not before 5.00 pm.
More information is available in the press release.
Day 2
Awaiting visitors to the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are spectacular matches right away in the first round after the draw was made on Sunday by amongst others Petra Kvitova, the 2019 Stuttgart winner from the Czech Republic. In her opening encounter, the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber will be up against Anett Kontaveit. After wins in the final round of qualifying, Germans Nastasja Schunk and Eva Lys have both reached the main draw. The Porsche Talent Team players now have the chance to take on the world’s best. Nastasja Schunk defeated Elina Avanesyan comfortably 6-4, 6-1 in one of the qualifying finals and is now set to play Elena Rybakina who is making her second Porsche Tennis Grand Prix appearance.
More information is available in the press release.
Day 1
The 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix began on Saturday with impressive performances in qualifying by two Porsche Talent Team players. Germany’s Nastasja Schunk and Eva Lys are both still in the running for a place in the main draw of the long-standing Stuttgart tournament. They have been joined in the final round by compatriot Tamara Korpatsch.
More information is available in the press release.
Facts and figures
Awaiting visitors to the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a week of superlatives served up by a world class field containing nine Top 10 players and an attractive programme of supporting events. Starting on Saturday with qualifying, the long-established tournament in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena will be an experience for the whole family. Awaiting the winner of the final on 24 April is a Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo as the main prize. Below are the main facts and figures:
“A fantastic flagship for Porsche and the Stuttgart region”
“We’re delighted that so many players will again be competing at this year’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “The tournament has a worldwide appeal and is a fantastic flagship for Porsche and the Stuttgart region. It’s why we’re happy that spectators are being allowed back into the Porsche Arena and that we can present them with live world class tennis.”
The world No. 1 in the Porsche Arena
Heading the starting line-up is Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1. The Pole, the winner of the 2020 French Open, this year became the first ever player to win the WTA 1000 events in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami. Other top players are the current French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic), Paula Badosa (Spain), last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff (USA) and Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic), the 2018 winner. Also taking part are the Porsche Brand Ambassadors Angelique Kerber and Emma Raducanu (Great Britain), the 2021 US Open champion.
Together with Angelique Kerber, who triumphed in Stuttgart in 2015 and 2016, two other Germans will be in the main draw – Laura Siegemund, the 2017 winner and Jule Niemeier, a member of the Porsche Talent Team, have both received a wildcard. Nastasja Schunk and Eva Lys, who are also both supported in the Porsche Talent Team, both have a qualifying wildcard. Canada’s Bianca Andreescu will make her Porsche Tennis Grand Prix debut with the help of a Top 20 wildcard. After a long lay-off and many set-backs, the 2019 US Open champion will be celebrating her long-awaited comeback on the WTA Tour in Stuttgart.
Win the final and then accelerate the pulse – the new Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo is the main prize at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. It embodies pure Porsche e-performance thanks to its up overboost power using Launch Control. The sporty silhouette is a real eyecatcher and more than just one tennis bag fits into the functional tailgate. The Taycan GTS Sport Turismo will also impress the new owner with its acceleration of 3.7 seconds from 0-100 km/h using Launch Control and its range of up to 490 kilometres.
Stuttgart Ballet and Badminton Final Four
An attractive supporting programme of events is a traditional part of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Visitors can see and marvel at very special Porsche vehicles in the new Porsche World in the foyer of the Porsche Arena. There are also autograph sessions with the stars as well as “have-a-go-yourself” activities for young and old. U-9 age group juniors will be competing in the Porsche Mini Tennis Grand Prix in the Public Village over the finals weekend. A sporting highlight alongside the tennis is the Final Four badminton tournament for the German Championship on Court 1 on 22 and 23 April. A delight for the senses is promised by a ballet piece on Centre Court. The world-famous Stuttgart Ballet’s performance will once again get the spectators in the right mood for the final.
Aces for Charity – Porsche to donate for children from Ukraine
Porsche will donate 100 euro for every ace hit during the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as a part of the Aces for Charity campaign. The donation will be divided up equally between the “Stiftung Agapedia” foundation and the regional “Landessportverband Baden-Württemberg” sports association. “With the traditional charity campaign, we want to acknowledge our societal responsibility as a company,” says Sebastian Rudolph, Vice President Communications, Sustainability and Politics at Porsche AG. We are delighted to support charitable organisations. This year, our focus is on projects for refugees from Ukraine.”
Every single match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will be televised live in Germany by Eurosport and Tennis Channel plus Porsche Tennis TV at www.porsche-tennis.com. Transmissions will start on Monday at 5.00 pm. The two singles semifinals will be played on Saturday at 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm. Sunday’s final will begin 1.00 pm. Tennis Channel will additionally show the qualifying matches and the main draw encounters on Court 1. The full broadcasting schedule can be found at www.porsche-tennis.com. Internationally, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix can be seen in over 100 countries.
Exclusive look behind the scenes
The Porsche Tennis TV broadcasts on the www.porsche-tennis.com tournament website will also include a live programme revolving around the main matches. Awaiting the fans alongside all the latest news is also exciting extra information about everything happening at the tournament with an exclusive look behind the scenes. To be seen are also interviews with a variety of guests and entertaining videos with the tennis stars. Viewers can again choose between four different camera positions like for example the Umpire Cam or the Net Cam in the middle of the net. There are also further interactive “have-a-go-yourself” activities” for the community. All practice sessions on courts 1 and 2 will be televised.
Advance ticket sales
Tickets for the 45th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix from 16 to 24 April are available at Easy Ticket Service by calling +49 711 / 2 55 55 55 or in Internet at www.easyticket.de. Also available are tickets for the Final Four tournament for the German Badminton Championship.
Service for all media representatives
Via the Porsche Presse Databank at https://presse.porsche.de/mediahub, journalists have access to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Media Hub where all the relevant information like press releases, match results, statistics, audio recordings of the press conferences and images are made available. Further contents can be found in the Porsche Tennis Media Guide.
