STUTTGART/WASHINGTON, January 8, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
Looking back on last year’s 46th edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, won for the second straight year by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, there was plenty of positivity that spread throughout Porsche Arena.
Swiatek successfully defended her WTA 500 indoor clay-court title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka that earned her a shiny, brand-new Porsche sports car, which she delighted in earning. The 28-player Stuttgart singles main draw included eight Top-10 players.
Now, as the 2024 season is underway, a world-class field is starting to take shape for this year’s long-standing event, which returns to Porsche Arena from April 13-21. On Monday, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix tournament director Markus Günthardt announced that reigning champion Swiatek, last year’s finalist Sabalenka as well as two-time Stuttgart winner Angelique Kerber and 2021 US Open champion and Porsche Brand Ambassador Emma Raducanu are set to play in the 47th edition of the award-winning tournament, which annually kicks off the European spring clay season.
“It’s fantastic that four top world stars have already committed themselves to coming,” Günthardt said in a news statement. “It’s a big compliment and a real sign of their confidence in the tournament.”
Four Grand Slam Champions are returning to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix this year! Get your tickets now and watch @iga_swiatek, @AngeliqueKerber, @SabalenkaA and @EmmaRaducanu compete in the Porsche Arena. 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/WkKacbMA4j
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) January 8, 2024
The quartet of stars have amassed a total of nine Grand Slam titles, led by Swiatek’s three French Open and one US Open crowns.
Swiatek, who wrapped up 2023 by winning the WTA Finals title after earlier garnering crowns in Doha, Stuttgart, Roland Garros, Warsaw and Beijing, has started 2024 with a bang. Last week, she won five singles matches at the United Cup in Sydney, Australia while representing Poland, which finished runner up to champion Germany. She was named United Cup most valuable player.
After winning the 2023 Stuttgart title, Swiatek said: “I’ll be coming back here every year because I love this tournament,” which drew one of the biggest applause lines of the trophy ceremony. “The atmosphere … is amazing.”
🔙 to 🔙 title for 1GA! 🏆#porschetennis #PTGP23 @iga_swiatek @WTA pic.twitter.com/ZVG66qZNYu
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) April 23, 2023
Sabalenka, who next week will begin defense of her 2023 Australian Open title, has been the Stuttgart runner-up the past three years. “I really want to win the car,” she said after last year’s event.
Kerber, a three-time major champion, has twice won Stuttgart twice (2015-16). She will be playing her first tournament in Germany since giving birth to her daughter Liana last year. Kerber was part of Germany’s United Cup championship team.
“I’ve missed the tournament and the fabulous crowd in the Porsche Arena,” Kerber said in a news statement. “I’m looking all the more forward to competing there again.”
Raducanu is mounting a comeback after missing much of last season while undergoing a trio of surgical procedures on her wrists and an ankle. The British favorite, who debuted in Stuttgart two years ago, is looking forward to returning as “there’s after all a Porsche to be won there. It’s got the best prize out there on Tour.”
Around the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Tickets for the 47th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in the Porsche Arena from April 13-21 are available at the tournament website www.porsche-tennis.com.
