The tournament has been held in Luxembourg since 1996, and Andrea Petkovic is the third player to be honored for her special commitment to the event. Previously, Monica Niculescu and, last year, local hero Mandy Minella received the award, which since 2018 bears the name of the deceased former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna.

"I am very honored," said Petkovic, who was eliminated last week in Linz in the semi-final against the eventual winner Cori Gauff. "Jana was someone I always looked up to. And I was very sad when I heard that she had died. "Jana Novotna died of cancer in late 2017 at the age of just 49.

Petkovic opens against Giorgi

It feels a bit strange, said the Darmstadt, because there were so many other players who would have earned this award rather than they. "What I really like, and what's important to me about tennis, is that they teach me about life." And these lessons are trying to put them on the court. However: eleven starts in Luxembourg have not so many players to show.

"The girls who were quicker than me, blessed with more talent than me, smarter than me - of whom I learn for life and let myself be inspired. That's how I keep developing every day, and I want to give it back. "In Luxembourg, Andrea Petkovic starts against sixth-seeded Camila Giorgi.