Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Siegemund and Petkovic attack with wild cards
Laura Siegemund and Andrea Petkovic start at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart with a wildcard. Siegemund used one of these four years ago to win the tournament.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 01, 2021, 07:28 am
Zhang Shuai. Svetlana Kuznetsova. Karolina Pliskova . Simona Halep. Kristina Mladenovic. Five names that Laura Siegemund can probably pray down in her sleep in exactly this order. Because that was the path that Siegemund took on her incredible journey as a wildcard starter to victory at the 2017 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. As the last German hope, mind you: Defending champion Angelique Kerber had to admit defeat to eventual winner Mladenovic in the second round.
The now 33-year-old had already shown in 2016 that Laura Siegemund can play excellent tennis in her home country. Since she had failed because of compatriot Kerber, had to watch how the then newly crowned Australian Open winner drove out of the Porsche Arena in the winning car.
A few weeks after the triumph in Stuttgart, however, Siegemund seriously injured his knee, and the advance in the WTA world rankings came to an end at position 29. The Swabian has by no means forgotten how to win: in 2020 she won the doubles title at the US Open with Vera Zvonareva.
Siegemund to victory with the wildcard
Incidentally, the omens for her appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2021 are similar to four years ago: Laura Siegemund will again go into the tournament with a wildcard. Will it be enough for the really big coup again? In any case, Siegemund is still an outstanding player on the ashes. As she showed with her quarter-finals in Roland Garros last year.
Andrea Petkovic has also promised a fixed place from tournament director Markus Günthardt in the traditional tournament starting on April 19th. The Darmstadt woman almost doesn't care about the run - when Petkovic feels herself, she is always good for a big fight. Like a few days ago against Sofia Kenin in Miami. Petkovic tormented the Australian Open winner from 2020 over three sets, had to admit defeat in the end.
Kenin could also meet Andrea Petkovic at this year's Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: The American is one of seven top ten players in the traditional Stuttgart tournament. Ashleigh Barty leads the field in front of Simona Halep.