Porsche Tennis Grand Prix claims ‘field stronger than a Grand Slam’
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix organisers have laid claim to having a stronger field than a Grand Slam.
The main draw of the ATP 500 tournament gets underway on Monday and organisers are thrilled to boast an incredibly strong field.
With nine Top 10 world ranked players and 16 from the Top 20, the long-established tournament in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena from 15 to 23 April is an enticing prospect.
Tournament Director Markus Günthardt said: ‟We’re once again offering our audiences the world’s top players.
“It’s the DNA of the tournament and what we aim to do. As for the starting line-up, we’ve always set high standards.
“We’re so pleased we’ve been able to keep meeting those standards. The fact that top stars like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia and Coco Gauff announced their coming early on is a big compliment for us.
‟For me, it’s proof that the total package we offer the players is spot on. We’re not one of the really big tournaments, we don’t have the biggest prize money and not the most world ranking points, and nevertheless the world’s best players come to us. It’s a fantastic statement telling us that they feel at home in Stuttgart and they like being here. And when it comes to the field, we’ve basically got an even stronger one than at a Grand Slam. Here the world No. 10 is not even seeded and can therefore meet the No. 5 in the first round. That doesn’t happen at any other tournament.”
World No 1 Iga Swiatek is out to follow in the footsteps of Maria Sharapova and Angelique Kerber and defend her title in Stuttgart.
‟We’re delighted to be able to present our crowd with a superstar like Iga,” Günthardt added.
“She was 2022’s outstanding player and deservedly tops the world rankings. As the defending champion, she’s definitely one of the big favourites, especially after showing at the Qatar Open in Doha that she is back in top form after getting off to a slow start to the season.”
The tournament also welcomes Australian Open champion and 2022 Runner-Up Aryna Sabalenka.
“Having both last year’s finalists is great for every tournament director,” Günthardt said.
“Aryna is a two-time runner-up and she told me she wants to win the tournament this time around at all costs. I think it’s definitely possible. She played brilliantly at the Australian Open and totally deserved to win her first Grand Slam. It’s just the right motivation for her to also fulfil her dream of winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, and the Porsche.”
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