Antonia Lottner (21) has missed the leap into the round of 16 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. The Wildcard owner from Düsseldorf had to admit defeat to the 15-year-old qualifier Marta Kostyuk 4:6. 1:6 in her opening match. The Ukrainian, who caused a sensation at the beginning of the season with her third round entry at the Australian Open, is the youngest first-round winner in the Swabian metropolis since Martina Hingis in 1994.
World Rankings 158th Kostyuk now faces either Caroline Garcia from France (No. 6) or three-time Stuttgart winner Maria Sharapova from Russia in the round of the last 16 on Thursday, who will take part in the 816,000 dollar indoor sand court tournament thanks to a wildcard.
Lottner, one of five German starters in the main draw, could only take advantage of one of nine break chances against teenage wonder Kostyuk. The German number one Julia Görges (Bad Oldesloe) will play her first match this evening against Czech Marketa Vondrousova, last year’s winner Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) will then meet her compatriot Barbora Strycova.
Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber (Kiel) will face Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic/No. 8) on Wednesday, against whom she lost 2:6, 2:6 in the Fed Cup semi-final on Sunday.
The winner of the 41st edition of the event, which has been voted the best tournament on the tour nine times in the past ten years, will receive prize money of 140,193 dollars and a red sports car from the main sponsor.
Favourites in the top-class field include the world number one Simona Halep (Romania) and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza (Spain). Eight top ten players compete in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.