The two top players Angelique Kerber and Julia Görges lead the field at the WTA sand court tournament in Stuttgart (23rd place) from a German point of view. till 29. April 2018). Defending champion and local hero Laura Siegemund will also be there after a long injury break.
International showpieces in the top-class starter field are the world number one Simona Halep (Romania), Wimbedon winner Garbine Muguruza (Spain/No. 3) and Maria Scharapowa (Russia), who receives a wildcard.
Other reigning major winners of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which is endowed with $816,000, are French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) and US Open Champion Sloane Stephens (USA). A total of eight top ten players will be competing – and 15 professionals from the top 20:”This is unique for a tournament in our category,”said sports director Anke Huber.
Kerber (No. 10) had won the tournament in 2015 and 2016. Sharapova had previously triumphed in the Swabian metropolis from 2012 to 2014. Last year, the Russian had celebrated her comeback in Stuttgart after a 15-month ban on doping last year. The winner wins at the 41. The event, which has been voted the best tournament nine times in the past ten years by the players, received 140,193 dollars in prize money and a chimney red sports car.