HAMBURG, November 12, 2023
The stars of the WTA Tour will be making their mark in the Hamburg Stadtpark in July 2024, serving as an ideal preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris. Nestled in the heart of the city, within Hamburg’s green recreational oasis on the grounds of THC von Horn und Hamm, a charming boutique-style Center Court will be erected — just a stone’s throw away from the Planetarium, Stadtparksee, and the open-air stage.
“Our message is clear: Women’s tennis belongs in Hamburg, and I am thrilled that we have found this ingenious solution. The Stadtpark is a dream location! We are surrounded by greenery, and fans will experience the stars up close like at hardly any other tournament worldwide. I look forward to an incredibly intimate atmosphere,” anticipates tournament director Sandra Reichel.
We have a new home! 🥳 In the heart of Hamburg’s Stadtpark we will be building a center court for 2,000 visitors. Our women’s tennis pros from the @WTA Tour will serve in the two-week time slot between Wimbledon and the Olympic Games. We will let you know the exact date! 💛 pic.twitter.com/yvohc5iTbM
— Hamburg European Open 〽️ (@hamburgopen) November 12, 2023
The WTA 250 tournament, themed “Ladies first!”, is scheduled to take place during the two-week window between Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, from July 15 to 26. The exact date will be announced shortly by the WTA. Tournament ambassador Andrea Petkovic, herself an Olympian in Rio 2016, expresses, “I see our tournament as the perfect preparation for the Olympics: We play on clay, just like in Paris, and here, the players can find true tranquility in an idyllic setting, with a short journey to Paris.”
The finalist at the Rothenbaum Tennis Tournament in 2021 and former World No. 9 emphasizes, “Hamburg is an absolute hub for women’s tennis. Currently, we have four Hamburg players in the Top 200 with Tamara Korpatsch, Eva Lys, last year’s finalist Noma Noha Akugue, and Ella Seidel. A city that produces four world-class players must be unique in the world! That’s why it was clear that we wanted to host a women’s tournament for these players and all tennis fans in Hamburg in 2024!”
Andy Grote: The tournament will attract a star-studded line-up
Hamburg’s Sports Senator, Andy Grote, also looks forward to this highlight in the “Active City” with anticipation: “After the fantastic successes of our local players this year, including the spectacular final appearance by Noma Noha Akugue, I am excited for a reunion at the Hamburg European Open for women next summer. The tournament in 2024, just before the Olympic Games in Paris, will attract a star-studded line-up, guaranteeing exciting matches for the people of Hamburg. I am confident that our top Hamburg players, Eva Lys, Noma Noha Akugue, Ella Seidel, and Tamara Korpatsch, will continue their impressive development with the support of the Hamburg audience. I thank Sandra Reichel for giving women’s tennis the stage it deserves in the future with this tournament!”
The Hamburg European Open: The second-oldest WTA tournament in the world
The history of the Hamburg European Open, a women’s professional tennis tournament, dates back to the year 1896, making it the second-oldest WTA tournament worldwide, following the Women’s Masters event in Canada (1892). In 2021, under the guidance of tournament director Sandra Reichel and MatchMaker Sports GmbH, the tournament returned to the historic Hamburg Rothenbaum after a 19-year hiatus. The 2021 edition took place the week before the men’s event, while in 2022 and 2023, it was held as a “Combined Event,” alongside the men’s tournament.
Founded in 1912, the Tennis and Hockey Club von Horn und Hamm is one of Hamburg’s prestigious traditional clubs. The women’s tennis team has been a flagship for many years, achieving a return to the second Bundesliga in the summer. The Stadtpark in Hamburg-Winterhude, covering approximately 150 hectares, is referred to as the “green lung” of Hamburg. This iconic recreational area, a classic among Hamburg’s green spaces, celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2024.
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