STUTTGART, March 10, 2021 (Porsche Press Release)

The 2021 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart will be held without spectators due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This was announced by the organizers of the WTA 500 event on Wednesday. The clay-court tournament will be held inside the Porsche Arena from April 17 to 25.

However, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will offer a wide range of live services through many channels. Fans will have the chance to experience the 44th edition via new interactive services from a wide variety of perspectives on social media and the event’s other digital channels. For the first time ever, every match will be streamed live on the tournament’s official website.

“After consulting with the local authorities and the WTA, we had to take this decision as the safety of all the people involved in the tournament is the upmost priority,” tournament director Markus Günthardt stated in a press release.

“Nobody can reliably predict that the pandemic situation will see a fundamental improvement in April and that major indoor events will then be possible with spectators. In making the decision, we would like to provide planning certainty for our partners, spectators and all other stakeholders.”

Top 3 players to compete in Stuttgart

The tournament’s entry list is led by the Top 3 of the WTA Rankings: World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia, World No. 2 and reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka from Japan and World No. 3 Simona Halep of Romania.

The trio will be joined by three women, who have already triumphed at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: 2019 champion Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic, her compatriot Karolina Pliskova, winner in 2018, as well as Porsche brand ambassador and local favourite Angelique Kerber, who lifted the trophy in 2015 and 2016. Other top stars confirmed for Stuttgart are Garbine Muguruza from Spain, Swiss Belinda Bencic and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.