Press-Information Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2016 1 Contents Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2016 Tournament information 4 Information at a glance 7 Timetable of the 2015 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 12 Supporting Programme 13 Berenberg Classics 17 The Players 24 The Top 10 – short bios 25 Prize Money 29 The winner’s car: Porsche 718 Boxster S 30 The Tournament Directors 32 The Venue 40 The Porsche Arena 40 The court in the Porsche Arena 41 History 43 Porsche and the WTA 44 Roll of Honour 1978 to 2015, Singles 46 Roll of Honour 1978 to 2015, Doubles 47 Porsche´s Tennis Involvement 48 2 Porsche Team Germany 48 Porsche Talent Team Germany 59 Contacts 67 Sponsors 68 Premium Partner 79 Charity Partner 99 3 Tournament information World class tennis in the Porsche Arena Premiere at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – with Angelique Kerber in the line-up, there will be a German Grand Slam winner competing at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament for the first time in its history. The Porsche Brand Ambassador and member of Porsche Team Germany won the Australian Open in January. She is the defending champion and one of six top 10 players that will be appearing in the Porsche Arena from April 16 to 24. Awaiting the winner in addition to the prize money is a Porsche 718 Boxster S as the main prize. The 39th edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – under the motto “Perfect Match” – has also attracted the stars to Stuttgart. Alongside Angelique Kerber, the other top 10 players in the line-up are Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), winner of the 2015 WTA Finals, rising star Garbine Muguruza (Spain), Simona Halep (Romania), the multiple Fed Cup winner Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) and US Open finalist Roberta Vinci of Italy. “Crème de la Crème” “Our main draw field once again contains the crème de la crème,” said Tournament Director Markus Günthardt. “Particularly pleasing is the fact that we can present our spectators with a German Grand Slam winner for the first time at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Angelique Kerber. It’s always been a wish of ours.” One player to have always thrilled many fans in Stuttgart is Ana Ivanovic from Serbia. Unforgotten is her appearance in the 2014 final when she and Maria Sharapova served up one of the best and most exciting finals in the history of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. At the end she was given a standing ovation lasting minutes on end. A top 20 player, she will be joined in the Porsche Arena by Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Lucie Safarova, who won the Fed Cup in 2014 and 2015 with the Czech 4 Republic. Also competing will be Sara Errani (Italy), who, together with Roberta Vinci, is a five-time doubles Grand Slam winner and the winner of the 2014 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix doubles title. The extent of the status the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix enjoys amongst WTA Tour players is demonstrated by the fact that they voted it their favourite tournament in its category (Premier 700) in 2015 – for the seventh time since 2007. Season highlight for Porsche talents In addition to Angelique Kerber, the other players belonging to Porsche Team Germany are also looking forward to appearing in front of their fans in the Porsche Arena. Also entered are Andrea Petkovic, Sabine Lisicki, Annika Beck, Mona Barthel, Julia Görges, the surprise 2011 winner, and Carina Witthöft, who, after being supported in the Porsche Talent Team Germany, has been promoted to the Porsche Team Germany after her recent consistently good performances. The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is also a season highlight for the Porsche Talent Team Germany members. In with a good chance of securing a main draw berth via qualifying is Anna-Lena Friedsam. The current German champion recently reached the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career at the Australian Open. “At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the circle closes for our talented youngsters,” said Barbara Rittner, the Porsche Team Germany captain. “They can gain vital experience and learn from the world’s top players.” Michael Stich in the Duel of Legends On the opening day of the tournament proper, the ladies will play host to two men – and tennis history will come alive in the Porsche Arena. Germany’s Michael Stich and the American Michael Chang will serve up the traditional and eagerly-awaited Berenberg Classics Duel of Legends – held in conjunction with the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – on April 18. Michael Stich is the last German Wimbledon men’s 5 champion (1991 in singles, 1992 in doubles). Michael Chang wrote tennis history when he claimed the 1989 French Open as a 17-year old “unknown”. Starting proceedings will be an exhibition doubles with some big names. Porsche works driver and World Endurance Championship winner Mark Webber will team up with Michael Stich against title-holder Angelique Kerber and Michael Chang. The tournament organisers are also turning to world class performers in the attractive supporting programme of events. One of the highlights are the performances by the famous Stuttgart Ballet on the Centre Court in the Porsche Arena – on Monday, April 18 and on finals day on Sunday, April 24. With such attractions and a wide range of sport and entertainment, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix should, according to Markus Günthardt, “this year once again become an event for the whole family.” Ticket information Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix can be booked on the phone (+49 711 / 2 555 555) or via the internet at www.easyticket.de. 718 Boxster S: combined fuel consumption 8.1 – 7.3 l/100 km, urban 10.7 – 9.5 l/100 km, extra-urban 6.5 – 6.0 l/100 km; CO2-emissions 184 - 167 g/km; efficiency class (Germany): F-E. 6 Tournament Information Information at a glance The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – quick facts and figures Date 16 April to 24 April 2016, Porsche Arena, Stuttgart Organiser Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart Tournament Director Markus Günthardt Operating Tournament Director Anke Huber Press Viktoria Wohlrapp Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG Director Porsche Sports Communications Porscheplatz 1, 70435 Stuttgart Tel: + 49 711 911-28099 Mobile: +49 170 911-4979 [email protected] Claus-Peter Andorka C3 Stuttgart Creative Code and Content GmbH Tournament Spokesman Telephone: +49 (0)711-900-510 Mobile: +49 (0)172-6911-517 E-mail: [email protected] 7 During the tournament, Claus-Peter Andorka will be your on-site contact in the Press Centre in the Porsche Arena. Competing players 32 in singles qualifying, 28 in singles main draw (4 qualifiers, 4 wild cards), 16 pairs in doubles main draw Playing times The qualifying matches begin on Saturday, 16 April at 10.00 am (all times are local), and on Sunday, 17 April at 11.00 am. Play from Monday, 18 April through to Thursday, 21 April will start at 12.00 am. The quarterfinals on Friday, 22 April will begin at 2.00 pm. The first semi-final on Saturday, 23 April will commence at 1.30 pm as will the final on Sunday, 26 April. Television (subject to change) The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will be televised by the regional SWR channel and Eurosport. Eurosport will show Monday’s Duel of Legends between Stich and Chang live from 6.30 pm and one match daily at 6.30 pm from Tuesday to Friday. Additionally, highlights of the first semi-final will be shown on Saturday at 5.00 pm, of the second semi-final at 8.15 pm and the final will be show on Sunday at 11.00 pm. SWR will broadcast live from the Porsche Arena from 2.00 to 4.00 pm on both Thursday and Friday and from 1.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There is a special online service available for fans all over the world as matches will be livestreamed via ran.de and tennis.de. The final will also be shown on porsche- tennis.de. Tickets Tickets can be booked on the phone (+49 711 / 2 555 555) or via the internet at www.easyticket.de as well as daily at the Porsche Arena box offices during the tournament week. 8 Prize money 759,000 US dollars total prize money Winner - singles: 129,551 US dollars Winners - doubles: 40,524 US dollars Main prize The singles winner will receive the prize money and the main prize, a Porsche 718 Boxster S. Status Porsche Tennis Grand Prix The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a WTA Premier Event tournament. It is the highest tournament category after the four Grand Slams in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York. In the recent past, the players voted it as their favourite tournament worldwide in its category in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Sponsors Bose, CONICA AG, Fila, Rado Switzerland, Turkish Airlines, Walter Knoll AG & Co. KG, Württembergische Versicherung AG Premium Partners Avis Budget Autovermietung GmbH & Co. KG, Babolat, Berenberg, DEKRA, Ensinger Mineral-Heilquellen GmbH, Geldermann Privatsektkellerei GmbH, Klingenberg GmbH, Konica Minolta IT Solutions GmbH, Marbach Concepte GmbH & Co. KG, OLYMP Bezner KG, Raumpflege AG, Success Hotel Group, Wilson Charity Partners Agapedia, Plan International Deutschland, UNICEF A look back to 2015 Singles final Angelique Kerber (GER) – Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 9 Doubles final Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) – Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Katharina Srebotnik (IND) 6-4, 6-3 First Porsche Tennis Grand Prix First played in 1978, it is Europe’s oldest women’s indoor tournament.