The Hologic WTA Tour returns to Europe for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the first WTA 500 event on red clay this year, held in Stuttgart, Germany. Photographer Jimmie48 is already in town, capturing images of the qualifying action and early arrivers such as Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Donna Vekic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Barbora Krejcikova.
Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff was spotted practicing on Friday. Last year, the American reached the tournament’s second round, her best result at Stuttgart so far.
World No.24 Barbora Krejcikova, who recently signed a sponsorship deal with Swiss luxury watch company Rado, is set to play her first tournament since the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in early February. The 2021 French Open champion had to withdraw from the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai due to a back injury. Her health was then further compromised by a severe flu, which kept her bedridden for several weeks.
Another Rado representative from the Czech Republic, Linda Noskova, is also in Stuttgart.
Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, last year’s semifinalist in Stuttgart, practiced with Krejcikova on Saturday.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich was Jabeur’s practice partner on Friday.
Aryna Sabalenka finished runner-up in Stuttgart the last three years! In 2021, she lost the final to Ashleigh Barty, and in the following two years, she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. As the Belarusian returns to Stuttgart in 2024, the question lingers: will she finally secure the title this time around?
World No.34 Donna Vekic entered into the main draw together with Paula Badosa when Americans Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro withdrew from the main-draw entry list due to changes in schedule (they are in the USA, where they secured their country’s qualification for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals).
Veronika Kudermetova practiced on Friday, with the just-unveiled Porsche that the 2024 champion will receive in the background.
World No.26 Anna Kalinskaya, who played the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai in February, is going through the qualifying stage in Stuttgart. The Russian convincingly won her first match in qualifying. Her next obstacle is 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani.
The former world No.5 Errani is currently ranked No.101.
Jasmine Paolini, the Dubai champion currently occupying a career-high position of No.14, is making her debut at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Ella Seidel, one of two representatives of Boss on the WTA Tour, was defeated in the first round of qualifying.
American Sachia Vickery advanced to the second round of qualifying where she faces Greet Minnen.
Main-draw play at the Porsche Tennis Grad Prix starts on Monday, April 15th.
