Markus Günthardt: "Women's tennis is more attractive than ever before"
An interview with Markus Günthardt, tournament director of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
by Press release / Porsche
last edit: Nov 12, 2019, 10:52 am
His appointment book was well filled in the days of Shenzhen. For Markus Günthardt, many talks were on the agenda at the WTA Finals - not only with representatives of the WTA, but also with players whom he tried to win for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2020. What are the special features of the tournament calendar next year, how he sees the development of women's tennis and who has particularly impressed him at the season finale, he tells us in our interview.
Mr. Günthardt, as Tournament Director of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix you were certainly not only in Shenzhen to experience exciting matches.
"No of course not. The WTA Finals will bring together the best players in the world and I would like to see them all in Stuttgart next year as well. At Grand Slam tournaments like Wimbledon or the US Open these players are rarely seen. At the WTA Finals, on the other hand, they run into each other at the hotel and in the restaurant, and they can also be experienced in their daily training. It's more likely to be able to talk to one or the other. "
How successful was your mission?
"Many players have told me that they would love to come to Stuttgart. The problem is that we have a whole new situation in 2020. Right in front of our tournament, there will be the first Fed Cup Final Week in Budapest, where eight national teams are playing for the win. "
Then you have the top players, so to speak already on the doorstep.
"For our tournament, this Fed Cup week is indeed a big advantage. But only if the best players are actually in Budapest at the start. That just gives me a bit of a headache. Take, for example, Bianca Andreescu, winner of the US Open and one of the promoted women of the year. If she plays Fed Cup and Canada qualifies for the final week in Budapest, then she's already in Europe and of course there's a chance that she'll hit us. But if Canada does not qualify and Bianca is playing against relegation in Japan, she probably will not get on the plane after the last match and come to Stuttgart. "
The tip in women's tennis seems good and broad. Why is it?
"With Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Belinda Bencic, young players have come to the fore that will dominate women's tennis over the next few years. Because successful veterans like Elina Svitolina, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova or Karolina Pliskova of course do not give up voluntarily, the competition among the top players has become even bigger. My impression, which is confirmed not only by the WTA Finals in Shenzhen: women's tennis is more attractive than it has been for many years, the power density at the top is enormous. And that will probably stay that way for a long time. "
Which player impressed you the most at the WTA Finals?
"Obviously Ashleigh Barty - not only in Shenzhen, but the whole season. It came practically from nowhere. At the beginning of the year I would never have believed that she would win the French Open and go into the winter break as number one. As she was the winner of the 'Porsche Race to Shenzhen' at the WTA Finals and defeated the previously unbeaten Elina Svitolina in the final shows clearly that these successes were not a coincidence.
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Angelique Kerber from Porsche Team Germany did not make it to the WTA Finals this time. Will she return to the top of the world?
"At Angelique, this is above all a head and fitness topic. She had a hard time motivating herself this year, which I personally understand well after all her successes. And they were also plagued by a few injury problems. The power density in women's tennis is currently very high. If you just take a little break, it's instant performance, so if you're not playing that well anymore, it will scratch your self-confidence - and suddenly the results will not work out. That's a chain reaction. But if she regains her motivation, stays fit and works on herself, she will be back in the top 10 by 2020. I am convinced of that."
The only German who could qualify for the WTA Finals via the "Porsche Race to Shenzhen" was Anna-Lena Grönefeld. What do you say to your performance with Demi Schuurs in the doubles?
"We know that Anna-Lena is an excellent double player. That's something she has proven enough with the Porsche Team Germany in the Fed Cup. In addition, she has twice won the double at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. I was very happy about her move to the semi-final in Shenzhen. That's a great achievement, after all, the level in women's doubles has increased significantly in recent years. "
Porsche global partner of the WTA
As part of its global partnership with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), Porsche is title partner of the "Porsche Race to Shenzhen" and as such is visible in all WTA tournaments worldwide. The Stuttgart sports car manufacturer is also the exclusive automotive partner of the WTA and the Shiseido WTA Finals and sponsor of the "Porsche Race to Shenzhen Challenge", the annual online fantasy game of the WTA. In addition, Porsche has its presence through partnerships in the WTA events in St. Petersburg (Russia), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Monterrey (Mexico), Birmingham (United Kingdom), San José (USA), Cincinnati (USA) and Linz (Austria) expanded. The company has been sponsoring the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix since 1978, and has also been the organizer since 2002. The tournament in the Stuttgart Porsche Arena is regularly voted by the players to the world's most popular in its category.