Known locally as the “Cradle of the automobile”, Stuttgart is home to Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, primary sponsor Porsche and of course, the Stuttgart Open – a WTA premier event.
The city is the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg and ranks as the country’s sixth largest.
The Open is the oldest indoor tennis tournament in Europe and the only indoor venue to use clay. It’s been a Premier event on the WTA circuit since 2009. $816,000 of prize money is on offer with sponsors Porsche throwing in an added bonus of a gleaming new 718 Boxster GTS for the champion.
The winner of the Stuttgart Open won’t be getting a bus home. Porsche will be providing a new 718 GTS Boxster.
Who’s playing?
The better question might be, “Who isn’t playing?” given the star cast signed up for Stuttgart.
Serena Williams is sitting this one out. Tournament Director Markus Günthardt said the American wasn’t planning on coming to Europe so early and would arrive on the continent in time to play Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.
Sister Venus will not play either. The only other Top 10 player not to feature is Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane has elected to play in Istanbul.
World #1 Simona Halep tops the seeds. Halep made the semi-finals last year and will be looking for a strong start to the clay swing.
Simona Halep will be looking to go better than her 2017 Semi-Final.
Germany is well represented, with two-time former champion Angelique Kerber, in-form Julia Görges and defending champion Laura Siegemund in the mix. Kerber professes not to like clay too much, but she clearly likes the indoor venue at Stuttgart and will be one to watch.
Garbiñe Muguruza and Jelena Ostapenko could also feature strongly. Ostapenko won the doubles here last year and demonstrated her clay court prowess at the highest level by annexing the French Open last year. Muguruza can’t be ruled out on any surface, let alone clay, a surface on which she triumphed at the 2016 French Open.
US Open champion Sloane Stephens will play. The enigmatic American has one (green) clay title on her resume but is enjoying a purple patch after following up her Flushing Meadows title with a win in Miami.
Other top players who will challenge include Caroline Garcia, Petra Kvitova, and Elina Svitolina.
Fact Flash:
Stuttgart has been voted by the players on the WTA tour as their favourite premier event for 9 of the last 11 years. Indian Wells won the vote in 2009 and 2013.
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