DTB nominates young Porsche teams for 2023
The German Tennis Association (DTB) has named twelve players who will receive special support in the Porsche Talent Team and the Porsche Junior Team in 2023.
by p.m
last edit: Mar 14, 2023, 02:28 pm
The promotion of young talent is an important element in the long-standing cooperation between Porsche AG and the German Tennis Association. The main goal is to accompany the young players on their way to a professional tennis career and, above all, to support them as comprehensively as possible through their appointment to the Porsche Team Germany. The support goes beyond the tennis court in that the players also receive individual measures such as athletic training, physiotherapy, media training or sports psychological support. A holistic education and a professional environment should help the young players to be able to fully exploit their potential.
The team members are nominated every year by those responsible for top-level sport at the DTB, Vice President for youth and top-level sport/education and training Dirk Hordorff, Managing Director Sport Veronika Rücker and Head National Coach Barbara Rittner together with the coaching staff. The players are selected based on their previous achievements and successes, but also on their talent and willingness to work hard on themselves. "We expect full commitment and the absolute commitment to concentrate fully on the tennis career. But also that the players are motivated to break new ground and make courageous decisions. This also includes discipline and the will to leave the comfort zone. It is particularly important to us that we treat each other with respect and trust, and to support the development of a professional career together as a team, so that the players can play for Germany in the Billie Jean King Cup in the future,” says Rittner.
The coaching team supports the nominated players at tournaments or is available as a contact person outside of the training sessions. In addition, the national coaches take on an advisory role in the background for the young talents in order to put together a professional and individual environment.
The Porsche Talent Team includes players who have already gained experience on the WTA and ITF tours. A prerequisite for a place in the team is the nomination in the national squad, which has already been announced by the DTB for 2023.
These seven players will make up the Porsche Talent Team in 2023:
- Eva Lys (born 2002; Hamburg Tennis Association; Billie Jean King Cup debut 2022; WTA ranking 118)
- Noma Noha Akugue (born 2003; Hamburg Tennis Association; German Champion 2020; WTA ranking 215)
- Nastasja Schunk (born 2003; Tennis Association Rhineland-Palatinate; Billie Jean King Cup debut 2021; WTA ranking 237)
- NEW: Ella Seidel (born 2005; Hamburg Tennis Association; German Champion 2022; WTA ranking 512)
- Mara Guth (born 2003; Hessian Tennis Association; WTA ranking 514)
- NEW: Joëlle Steur (born 2004; Westphalian Tennis Association; WTA ranking 554)
- NEW: Julia Stusek (born 2008; Baden Tennis Association; WTA ranking 832)
Ella Seidel, Joëlle Steur and Julia Stusek were already part of the Porsche Junior Team in 2022 and moved up to the Porsche Talent Team in 2023.
The Porsche Junior Team is always made up of talented youngsters under the age of 18 who are also part of the junior squad. The following players will be supported this year:
- Carolina Kuhl (born 2005; Bavarian Tennis Association; ITF Junior Ranking 78)
- Josy Daems (Born 2006; Tennis Association Lower Saxony-Bremen; ITF Junior Ranking 113)
- NEW: Anna Linn Puls (born 2006; Tennis Association Rhineland-Palatinate; ITF Junior Ranking 193)
- NEW: Valentina Steiner (born 2006; Württemberg Tennis Association: ITF Junior Ranking 324)
- NEW: Sonja Zhenikhova (born 2008; Berlin-Brandenburg Tennis Association; ITF Junior Ranking 525)