STUTTGART/WASHINGTON, February 29, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
The 47th edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has added 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff of the United States to its 2024 lineup, completing an exclusive quartet of reigning major champions. The announcement was made by tournament director Markus Günthardt on Thursday.
The addition of the World No. 3 Gauff means that the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which takes place in Stuttgart, Germany April 13-21, will have all of the reigning Grand Slam champions among its 28-player singles draw. Gauff joins an elite group that already includes 2023 French Open champion Iga Swiatek, 2023 Wimbledon titlist Marketa Vondrousova and 2024 Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka.
“First of all, she’s a player I love watching,” Günthardt said in a statement. “And secondly, we’ll be hosting all four reigning Grand Slam champions.”
“I am excited to kick off the clay court swing in Stuttgart.”
And we are excited to welcoming you back in the Porsche Arena, @CocoGauff! 🧡Read more about Coco’s return: https://t.co/NtoLIxAAms pic.twitter.com/GfJLuyG6ri
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) February 29, 2024
The world class field coming to Stuttgart to kick off the WTA Tour’s spring clay season also contains three other players that have won Grand Slams: Porsche Brand Ambassadors Angelique Kerber and Emma Raducanu plus former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
“I am excited to kick off the clay court swing in Stuttgart. I have had a lot of success on the clay and I think Stuttgart provides the perfect week with great hospitality to start the European season,” Gauff said in a statement. “The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is still a tournament I can improve on and I am up for the challenge.”
Gauff, who began the 2024 season by winning the Auckland title and reaching the Australian Open semifinals after winning four titles last year, has played in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on two previous occasions – in 2022 and 2023. She has gone the furthest in the doubles, partnering Zhang Shuai to the final on her first appearance in the Porsche Arena. Her aim this time around is to win the singles title and the Porsche sports car, the traditional main prize for the winner.
Swiatek is a two-time defending champion and Sabalenka has been runner up each of the last two years.
Tickets for this year’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are available through the tournament’s official website: www.porsche-tennis.com.
