The 2017 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the WTA Tour stop in Stuttgart, Germany, is as anticipated as it has ever been, maybe more than ever before. There is a simple reason for this: Maria Sharapova returns to the tour after her long suspension-based absence. Everyone is interested to see how well she plays and if she can make a run at the French Open, the one major tournament she has won more than once. Sharapova will probably be rusty, but she will also be very fresh and rested. Oh, and there will also be other competitors eager to take her down. The tennis world will be keeping a close eye on this event – especially her – as the action in Germany gets underway.
The competition in the 28-player main draw will begin on Monday, April 24.
Event Details
Event: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Category: WTA Premier Level
Date: April 24-30, 2017
Location: Porsche Arena – Stuttgart, Germany
With a prize money allotment of just under $800,000, this tournament has continued to grow in terms of its overall purse. It’s a central event in the run-up of the clay season as it moves toward Madrid and Rome and then Roland Garros. The news with Sharapova only adds to what is a thriving tour stop.
Points
Champion – 470 points
Runner-up – 305
Semifinal – 185
Quarterfinal – 100
Round-of-16 – 55 points
Former Champions and Results (5 Years)
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2016: Angelique Kerber def. Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-0
2015: Angelique Kerber def. Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
2014: Maria Sharapova def. Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2013: Maria Sharapova def. Li Na 6-4, 6-3
2012: Maria Sharapova def. Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-4
Player Info:
Two-time defending Stuttgart champion and the home favorite Angelique Kerber will see last year’s Stuttgart points drop off, which allows Serena Williams an automatic entry to the top of the rankings. Kerber will have an immediate chance to snatch back the top spot by reaching the semifinals of this year’s event, which takes place a week later this year due to a shift in the calendar. The German isn’t in the greatest form but will be motivated to get to the top spot in front of her home crowd.
Karolina Pliskova is a completely different player relative to the one which lost last year to Agnieszka Radwanska in Stuttgart. Since then, Pliskova has totally remolded herself, making the finals in New York in 2016 at the U.S. Open and regularly going deep in tournaments. In Serena’s absence, she could be the one challenging Kerber for the top spot in the immediate future.
Johanna Konta is on duty for Great Britain in the away Fed Cup tie against Simona Halep’s Romania this weekend before heading to Stuttgart, where she lost in the opening round to Anna-Lena Friedsam last year. Although clay isn’t her best surface, she has put in the work to be a different player from what she was last year. In the absence of Serena, she’ll try to continue her great form which earned her the title in Miami and a fast climb up the rankings.
Dominika Cibulkova can certainly play on clay, as she showed by reaching the finals in Madrid last year. However, 2017 has been tough. She lost to players ranked a lot lower than her on multiple occasions. Cibulkova is ranked No. 4 but is far from consistent. Clay might bring good results, but with Cibulkova you never know.
Svetlana Kuznetsova was the champion in Stuttgart in 2009 and is the one of the very few who can quickly adapt to the red dirt. Kuznetsova made the finals in Indian Wells, which allows her to stay in the top 10 a little longer. She has been consistent this year but importantly she loves clay and is a strong contender for the title.
Porsche Arena
The building comfortably seats just over 6,100 people in this indoor clay tournament. The arena was built in 2006 and will be the long-term site for this tournament in Stuttgart. The Germans love their tennis, so look for them to be out in full force cheering on their players. That should give Kerber a boost. She has been struggling a little bit this season, but having the home audience cheer her on could give her the inspiration she needs.
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