Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Victoria Azarenka - vaccination instead of start in Stuttgart
Victoria Azarenka will not serve at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix next week. The 31-year-old will soon be vaccinated against the corona virus.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Apr 16, 2021, 07:57 am
Due to the corona pandemic, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will take place without fans this year. For the coming season, the organizers around tournament director Markus Günthardt naturally hope for full ranks if the situation around COVID-19 should have calmed down thanks to the vaccination.
Since Victoria Azarenka will soon take the vaccination, the woman from Belarus will not be able to serve in Stuttgart this year. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in Stuttgart at the Porsche Grand Prix next week because I will receive my first dose of vaccine at the same time," wrote the former world number one on Twitter. Azarenka hopes to return to Baden-Württemberg next year.
After the rejection of the reigning French Open winner Iga Swiatek , Günthardt and Co. have to cope with another bitter news. Another top 20 player, Johanna Konta, will not compete in Stuttgart, and youngster Cori Gauff will not take part in the Porsche Grand Prix this year.
Still, you don't have to worry about the field of participants. With Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin, Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova and defending champion Petra Kvitova, seven top ten players will start in Stuttgart. The starting gun for the WTA 500 tournament will be given on April 19th