First-round play at the 2016 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix got into full swing on Tuesday as several of the tournament’s marquee players and local favorites played their first matches inside the Porsche Arena.
Petra Kvitova had the honor of opening the day and the Czech Wimbledon champion did so in style, blowing Louisa Chirico off the court 6-0 6-0, scoring only her second ever double bagel win.
Ana Ivanovic’s Stuttgart debut was equally successful, although the Serb needed a little longer to bring home her straight-set win over Carina Witthöft. The young German managed to pressure Ivanovic in the first set, the Serb fell behind, and only managed to win the set via tiebreak, cruising in the second set.
While Witthöft’s loss was not welcome news for the crowd, the local fans had plenty to celebrate on Tuesday as Annika Beck made the second round by getting past Camila Giorgi, while Laura Siegemund continues what has been a stellar 2016 season for her.
Playing her way through qualifying, Siegemund faced Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Now coached by Maria Sharapova’s former hitting partner Dieter Kindlmann, Pavlyuchenvkoa lost the first set 0-6, only to build up a 5-2 lead in the second set. Unfortunately for the Russian, Pavlyuchenkova slipped and fell while trying to close out the set, allowing Siegemund to close the match and continue her great run.
Wednesday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will be all about big-name German stars as Andrea Petkovic and 2015 Stuttgart champion Angelique Kerber are due to play their first matches inside the Porsche Arena this year.
Laura Siegemund is another talented and sympathetic player who is a pleasure to watch, without shrieking or annoying body language (no exaggerated fist pumping..). Sporting Tonic apparel is an extra twist since the brand is not so big.