At a glance
- The German came back from a set and a double-break down against Paula Badosa to reach the last 16.
- Two other Germans – Ella Seidel and Tamara Korpatsch – bowed out after spirited performances.
- Elise Mertens, Karolina Muchova, Leylah Fernandez, Diana Shnaider and Ekaterina Alexandrova all progress to the last 16.
- Four Top 10 players – Jasmine Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina – will start their campaigns on Wednesday.
Gripping three-set thriller in the Porsche Arena – Porsche Friend Eva Lys defeated the former world No. 2 Paula Badosa of Spain 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in an enthralling match and advanced to the last 16 after a match lasting two hours and 15 minutes. The German was 4-1, 40-15 down in the second set, but clawed her way back into the match and eventually converted her first match point.
The 24-year-old had stressed beforehand that she feels ‟at home” in Stuttgart – and it was exactly this special atmosphere that helped her to one of her most emotional victories in recent months. In the post-match interview, she said that she had simply tried to find her game without being too expectant and work her way point for point back towards her normal level. ‟Having the spectators in the almost full Porsche Arena believing in me meant a great deal.” All the greater, therefore, was the relief at her first win since the knee injury she sustained in Australia.
Ella Seidel, on the other hand, is out. The German lost her first-round match against Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4, but still turned in a spirited display against the Belgian world No. 20. ‟Stuttgart is a wonderful tournament,” said the 20-year-old. ‟I was very happy at being able to play on Centre Court. It’s always a superb atmosphere.” Another German – Tamara Korpatsch – exited the tournament late in the evening. The 30-year-old lost 6-3, 6-1 to Diana Shnaider.
Top stars enter the fray on Wednesday
Wednesday will see four Top 10 players start their campaigns. First up will be the Italian Jasmine Paolini, the world No. 8, against the qualifier Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey. In the day’s second match, Noma Noha Akugue will face Alycia Parks of the USA. Then, not before 5.00 pm, title-holder Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia will take on Mirra Andreeva. The 18-year-old world No. 9 won the WTA 500 tournament in Linz last week. Not before 6.30 pm, local hero Laura Siegemund will take on Poland’s Iga Swiatek in a meeting between two Stuttgart champions. ‟I’ve got nothing to lose and hope I can put on a show,” said the 2017 winner after her opening victory. To round off the day, Porsche Friend Eva Lys will face Elina Svitolina. Speaking ahead of her first match, the Ukrainian, the current world No. 7, stressed just how special it was for her to return to Stuttgart.
Tickets for the Porsche Arena
Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix are available as usual via Easy Ticket Service (Internet or by calling +49 711/2 55 55 55), or directly at www.porsche-tennis.com or at the Porsche Arena box offices. Only a few tickets are still available for the four days between Thursday, 16 April and Sunday, 19 April. Information about VIP tickets enabling an exclusive tennis experience close up to the stars is available by emailing vip@perfectmatch.de.
Tuesday’s results
1st Round, singles
[7] K. Muchova (CZE) vs [Q] A. Sasnovich 6-2, 6-4
E. Mertens (BEL) vs [WC] E. Seidel (GER) 6-3, 6-4
L. Fernandez (CAN) vs A. Eala (PHI) 6-1, 6-4
E. Lys (GER) vs [WC] P. Badosa (ESP) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
D. Shnaider vs [WC] T. Korpatsch (GER) 6-3, 6-1
[8] E. Alexandrova vs [Q] G. Knutson (CZE) 6-2, 6-2
1st Round, doubles
A. Parks (USA)/A. Smith (USA) vs T. Mihalikova (SVK)/L. Noskova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
L. Siegemund (GER)/V. Zvonareva vs A. Bolsova (ESP)/Y. Cavalle-Reimers (ESP)
6-3, 6-1
[4] N. Melichar-Martinez (USA)/L. Samsonova vs [WC] N. Noha Akugue (GER)/E. Seidel (GER) 6-2, 6-4
[1] J. Ostapenko (LAT)/S. Zhang (CHN) vs E. Lechemia (FRA)/L. Salden (BEL)
7-5, 6-1
Order of Play, Wednesday
Centre Court
From 12.30 hrs
[Q] Z. Sonmez (TUR) vs [5] J. Paolini (ITA)
[Q] A. Parks (USA) vs [WC] N. Noha Akugue (GER)
Not before 17.00 hrs
J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs [6] M. Andreeva
Not before 18.30 hrs
[3] I. Swiatek (POL) vs L. Siegemund (GER)
E. Lys (GER) vs [4] E. Svitolina (UKR)
Court 1
From 12.30 hrs
[3] L. Kichenok (UKR) / D. Krawczyk (USA) vs U. Eikeri (NOR) / Q. Gleason (USA)
E. Hozumi (JPN) / F. Wu (TPE) vs [2] E. Perez (AUS) / D. Schuurs (NED)
Not before 15.00 hrs
S. Zhang (CHN) vs L. Noskova (CZE)
L. Fernandez (CAN) / F. Stollar (HUN) vs [4] N. Melichar-Martinez (USA) / L. Samsonova
Porsche in tennis
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is the flagship of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG‘s worldwide involvement in women’s tennis. First played in 1978, the Stuttgart WTA tournament stands for tradition and innovation, just like the Porsche brand. As the most loyal sponsor of women’s international tennis, Porsche has accompanied the WTA’s oldest indoor event right from the start. Porsche has also been a premium partner of the ‟Deutsche Tennis Bund” (DTB – German Tennis Association) since 2012 and is committed to fostering up-and-coming players in the Porsche Talent Team.
