Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Angelique Kerber the first German to be seeded number 1
marzo 10, 2016 - Porsche

Angelique Kerber the first German to be seeded number 1

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

Premiere at the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix – for the first time in the history of the long-standing Stuttgart tournament, a German will be seeded number one. &35;angeliquekerber – the &35;porsche Brand Ambassador and member of &35;porsche Team Germany – secured her place at the head of the current entry list with her win at the Australian Open. She is the defending champion and one of eight top 10 players that will be appearing in the &35;porsche Arena from April 16 to 24. Awaiting the winner in addition to the prize money is a &35;porsche 718 Boxster S as the main prize. 

The 39th edition of the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix – under the motto “Perfect Match” – has also attracted the stars to Stuttgart. Alongside &35;angeliquekerber, the other top 10 players in the line-up are &35;agnieszkaradwanska (Poland), winner of the 2015 WTA Finals, &35;simonahalep (Romania), &35;garbinemuguruza (Spain), &35;carlasuareznavarro (Spain), the multiple Fed Cup winner &35;petrakvitova (Czech Republic), &35;robertavinci (Italy) and the Swiss shooting star &35;belindabencic. 

“Crème de la Crème”

“Our main draw field once again contains the crème de la crème,” said Tournament Director Markus Günthardt. “Particularly pleasing is the fact that we can present our spectators with a German Grand Slam winner for the first time in the &35;porsche Arena in &35;angeliquekerber. It’s always been a wish of ours.” 

One player to have always thrilled many fans in Stuttgart is Ana Ivanovic from Serbia. Unforgotten is her appearance in the 2014 final when she and Maria Sharapova served up one of the best and most exciting finals in the history of the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix. At the end she was given a standing ovation lasting minutes on end. A top 20 player, she will be joined in the &35;porsche Arena by Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Lucie Safarova, who won the Fed Cup in 2014 and 2015 with the Czech Republic. Also competing will be &35;saraerrani (Italy), who, together with &35;robertavinci, is a five-time doubles Grand Slam winner and the winner of the 2014 &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix doubles title. 

The extent of the status the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix enjoys amongst WTA Tour players is demonstrated by the fact that they voted it their favourite tournament in its category in 2015 – for the seventh time since 2007. 

A season highlight for up-and-coming youngsters

In addition to &35;angeliquekerber, other players belonging to &35;porsche Team Germany are also looking forward to appearing in front of their fans in the &35;porsche Arena. Also entered are Andrea Petkovic, Sabine Lisicki, Annika Beck, Mona Barthel and Julia Görges, the surprise 2011 winner. The &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix is also a season highlight for the up-and-coming youngsters supported within the &35;porsche Talent Team Germany set-up. Anna-Lena Friedsam is sure to have the best chance of securing a main draw berth via qualifying. The current German champion recently reached the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career at the Australian Open and is currently on the threshold of breaking into the world top 50.

“At the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix, the circle closes for our talented youngsters,” said Barbara Rittner, the &35;porsche Team Germany captain. “They can gain vital experience and learn from the world’s top players.” 

Michael Stich in the Duel of Legends

On the opening day of the tournament proper, the ladies will play host to two men – and &35;tennis history will come alive in the &35;porsche Arena. Germany’s &35;michaelstich and the American &35;michaelchang will serve up the traditional and eagerly-awaited Berenberg Classics Duel of Legends – held in conjunction &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix – on April 18. &35;michaelstich is the last German Wimbledon men’s champion (1991 in singles, 1992 in doubles with John McEnroe). &35;michaelchang wrote &35;tennis history when he claimed the 1989 French Open as 17-year old “unknown”. 

The tournament organisers are also turning to world class performers in the attractive supporting programme of events. One of the highlights are the performances by the famous Stuttgart Ballet on the Centre Court in the &35;porsche Arena – on Monday, April 18 and on finals day on Sunday, April 24. With such attractions and a wide range of sport and entertainment, the &35;porsche &35;tennis Grand Prix should, according to tournament director Markus Günthardt, “this year once again become an &35;event for the whole family.”