After a big fight, Tatjana Maria is in round 2 of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for the first time
Tatjana Maria is in round 2 in Stuttgart for the first time in her career after a big fight.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 18, 2023, 08:09 pm
What a tour de force, what a win after 2 hours and 45 minutes - and what a great success for local hero Tatjana Maria! With a 6:2, 4:6 and 7:6 (4) against Ylena In-Albon, she won her first match in the main draw of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. In her previous participations (2006, 2007, 2008) it was always the end in round 1.
"It was so close, in the third set every point was at stake. I needed the audience there," Maria was overjoyed.
She had the match under control initially, with her usual variation and lots of slice. In round two, however, the Swiss got a better chance and built up the points patiently and aggressively. And seemed to be the slightly better player at the beginning of the third set. But then Maria became more offensive again, tormenting In-Albon on their serve at 4: 3 and 5: 4, here she also won the first match ball - with an energetic all-or-nothing backhand pass ball. In-Albon, however, stayed cool, and shortly afterwards at match point number 2, where Maria tried chip-and-charge. Quote from on-court man Heinz Günthardt after the match: "Martina Navratilova would have done it in 1976, but now you too..."
The 5:5 equalization hurt Maria, she was quickly behind at 0:30 on her own serve, but showed a fighting heart. In the tie break she was very lucky at 3:3 when a forehand pass was overruled by the referee in her favor, after which Maria shot two strong serves into the opponent's court. And a soulful slice to victory.
She now meets Caroline Garcia.
Paula Badosa with a great start, Niemeier on Wednesday
At midday, Beatriz Haddad Maia initially benefited from the resignation of Martina Trevisan with a score of 7: 5, 1: 1, then Paula Badosa pulled off a brilliant performance with 6: 1, 6: 1 over Daria Kasatkina.
In the late evening Emma Raducanu will play against Jelena Ostapenko.
On Wednesday from 5 p.m. Jule Niemeier meets Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, last year's finalist Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur then also get involved.