Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Successful couple Günthardt and Huber still have big plans
A strong team is behind the success of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Markus Günthardt and Anke Huber have been a successful doubles team since 2005. In an interview with the Porsche Newsroom, the tournament director and the sporting director talk about the continuing success of the world-class event in the Porsche Arena, the feel-good factor for the players and the responsibility that the tournament, which is peppered with top stars, has for young German tennis players.
by p.m
last edit: Mar 09, 2023, 04:42 pm
Anke, Markus, in five weeks the first serve will take place at the 46th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. What can visitors especially look forward to?
Anke Huber: "In terms of sport, it's absolutely world-class tennis, as always at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Numerous top stars will be in the Porsche Arena again this year, starting with Iga Swiatek, the defending champion and number 1 in the world. The fact that her opponent in the final last year and current Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka is coming back to Stuttgart promises additional excitement and thrills.”
Markus Günthardt: "We also have other top 10 players with us, such as Caroline Garcia, who won the WTA Finals in 2022, and Coco Gauff. The 18-year-old American is one of the young and successful players who represent the future of women's tennis. We are also happy that Emma Raducanu is playing in the Porsche Arena again. As a Porsche brand ambassador, the winner of the US Open 2021 has a home game. Since the official registration deadline is not until the end of March, we assume that other top 10 players will be added.”
How do you manage that the top 10 in the world compete almost as one in Stuttgart year after year?
Anke Huber: "Basically, we're happy about every player who comes to us, whether it's number 1 or number 50. I've built up good personal contact with most of them over the years. I no longer need to convince the players who have been with us before of the qualities of our tournament. You know exactly what to expect. They know their stuff and when they need something, they know who to turn to. For them it's like coming home. They always tell us how comfortable they feel with us. For us, that is the best compliment.”
Markus Günthardt: "When I look at the list of stars who have already confirmed, it's proof to me that our overall package is right. We're not one of the really big tournaments, we don't have the highest prize money and we don't have the most world ranking points - and yet the best players in the world come to us. It's a great statement that they use to tell us that they love being with us."
Is that perhaps also because they can win a great sports car as the main prize in Stuttgart
Markus Günthardt: “Of course. The winning vehicle has been part of the tradition and DNA of the tournament since the first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in 1978. This year, a fully electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo awaits the winner. Of course, any of the top players could easily buy a Porsche themselves. But that's not the point. What makes the winning car so desirable to them is the prospect of using it to reward themselves for excellent performance throughout the tournament week and victory in the final. More motivation is not possible.”
The starting field of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is traditionally of Grand Slam level. What is your secret of success
Markus Günthardt: “Put simply, we offer the players the conditions under which they can perform at their best. It starts with the excellent training facilities that you will find here and ends with a full hall and a great atmosphere. I have to pay the Stuttgart crowd a big compliment: the atmosphere in the Porsche Arena is great, regardless of whether there's a qualifier on the pitch or a top 10 star. The players really appreciate all of that.”
Anke Huber: The feel-good factor also plays a major role. The players live in the hotel right next to the hall and can walk to training and matches. It's just nice to see that you feel at home with us and that you're always happy to come back to us. For many, Stuttgart is a fixed point in their season planning. That fills us with a certain pride. But we also try to read the players' every wish from their eyes."
With wildcards, you also give young German players the chance to compete with the best in the world. How important is that to you?
Anke Huber: "It's always nice to have so many top stars with us. But as a tournament in Germany, we also have a responsibility towards young Germans. We are happy to live up to this responsibility. In order to get to the top, these talents, most of whom are promoted in the Porsche Talent Team and Porsche Junior Team, have to play in big tournaments. With our wildcards for qualification or even the main draw, we give them the chance to gain important experience for their future careers against the best players in the world. We are coordinating this with national coach Barbara Rittner and the German Tennis Association.”
What is your experience with this type of youth development?
Anke Huber: “Our junior players have always done quite well in the Porsche Arena in recent years and have taken their chances. Eva Lys and Nastasja Schunk made their way into the main draw last year with a wild card via qualification. That was a strong performance, since qualifying is always very strong for us. Eva even won the first round against a top 40 player. We will consistently continue on this path and continue to offer young German players a platform on which they can show themselves.”
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix traditionally offers its visitors an attractive supporting program away from the courts. Is there anything new?
Markus Günthardt: “The Racket Sports World is new this year. This is a racquet sports festival in the public area of the tournament. In the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, visitors will be offered an interesting and varied adventure and hands-on program for tennis, padel, table tennis, badminton and touch tennis on all nine event days. Those who buy a ticket for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix have free access to Racket Sports World on that day. But for the first time there are also separate tickets for the public area with all its exciting activities.”
How important are side events like this for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix?
Markus Günthardt: “From my point of view, they are very important. We want the spectators to spend the whole day in the hall with us, but we can't expect them to sit in the stands and watch tennis for ten hours. So we have to create the conditions with attractive offers away from the courts so that our visitors are willing to stay with us for so long. And another important point: We also want to specifically address families, and not everyone has the same interests. By offering a colorful mix of different promotions and activities, we hope that there is something for everyone. The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix should continue to be an event for the whole family.”