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18.06.2021 | Stuttgart | Tennis | Press Release

Interview with the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber

“I see the new tournaments in Germany as a big chance”

Stuttgart. This week the bett1open in Berlin, next week the Bad Homburg Open: two new Porsche-supported WTA tournaments are upgrading Germany as a tennis location. Porsche Newsroom spoke with the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber about the positive development and the associated chances for the country’s top up-and-coming players as well as her commitment to the Bad Homburg tournament. She will not only be competing at the event but is also involved in its organisation. She says the twin roles is a “fantastic challenge”.

Angelique, two new women’s tournaments in Germany alongside the long-standing Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – what do you think?
“It’s a fantastic development. Ever since I started playing on the WTA Tour, I’ve always wished for more tournaments in Germany. It’s finally happened. I‘m so happy for the tennis fans as they can see even more top-grade women’s tennis with the world’s best players.”

What does it mean for German women’s tennis?
“I see it as a big chance. Our best young players will have even more opportunity to present themselves to a bigger group of people via the wildcards and, far more importantly, test themselves on a bigger stage with top players. It’s all valuable experience. The fact that talented players exist in Germany is something we recently saw again at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.”

Are the tournaments an indication of the high standing that women’s tennis enjoys in Germany?”
“Definitely. I’m so pleased with everything and am a little proud that my successes in the past years have in all likelihood played a part in ensuring that women’s tennis here has a better standing again. Porsche Team Germany’s success in the Billie Jean King Cup, the former Fed Cup, have made the positive trend possible.”

The Bad Homburg Open is partly your “baby”, you’re at one and the same time a player and a tournament ambassador. To what extend are you involved with the organisation and how do you like the twin roles?
“It was an exciting journey for me right from the very start. I have gained even more interesting insights into the work that goes into organising such an event and have often been amazed at what it takes to ensure everything from A to Z runs smoothly. It’s a fantastic challenge not only being involved as a player but at the same time be jointly responsible for the success of the tournament. I’m well aware of the responsibility and I’m happy to take it. After the premiere last year was cancelled due to corona, it’s all the nicer that we can finally get things rolling.”

How appealing is it being able to introduce one’s ideas and experiences as a player into one’s own tournament?
“I’m so happy and grateful that I’ve got the opportunity to do it at the Bad Homburg Open. I’ve naturally tried to inject as much of my experience as possible. I ultimately know what players expect of such a tournament and what is particularly important for them. But it all comes down to the question, what’s possible? What can you put into place? The overall situation remains a bit difficult. Nevertheless, I feel we and our team will put on a good tournament, one with a friendly atmosphere and a certain feel-good character. I’m eager to find out how the players find everything.”

Did it need a lot of convincing to attract stars like Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova to Bad Homburg?
“Not at all. Having Simona and Petra as former Wimbledon champions here is naturally fantastic, also for the fans. It definitely helped that they know me well and additionally know just how well tournaments are organised here in Germany from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. They’re above all, like me, looking forward to being able to play a few more matches on grass ahead of Wimbledon. We’ll for sure enjoy a thrilling tournament.”

Which positive things from your time on the tour have been integrated into the Bad Homburg Open?
“I’m particularly pleased that spectators will be in attendance, and we won’t be playing in front of empty stands. For me and all the other players, it’s a really important factor. We’ve naturally also endeavoured to offer them conditions in which they can perform at their best. A compact tournament with everything only a short walk away. It was – based on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – our goal. The players’ hotel is only 300 metres away from the site, we’ve got good practice courts, and everything else is spot on. I’m sure the players will feel at home here.”

The exclusive Porsche Shuttle Service provided by Porsche Germany with the support of the Bad Homburg Porsche Center is certain to play a part.
“I’m sure it’ll be the case. As a Porsche Brand Ambassador, I’m delighted that Porsche, a long-time sponsor of women’s tennis, is now a part of our tournament. It’s the same for the players. They’re always thrilled when they can be shuttled backwards and forwards in such fabulous cars.”

You talked about the spectators. How many are allowed at the venue and how big was the fans’ interest?
“It was overwhelming. We’re allowed to have 600 spectators per day at the venue and when we started ticketing last week, only for last year’s ticket holders, we were sold out for every day within half an hour. It showed us just how much everybody is looking forward to our tournament. There can be no bigger compliment for an organiser.”

Porsche in tennis
Porsche has been sponsoring the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix ever since 1978 and has also been the organiser since 2002. The tournament in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena was voted by the players as their favourite event in its category once again in 2019. Within the scope of its global partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Porsche is also the title partner of the “Porsche Race to Shenzhen”, the official qualifying ranking for the Shiseido WTA Finals. The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer is also the exclusive automotive partner of the WTA, the eason-ending WTA Finals, and this year of the WTA tournaments in Lyon, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Bad Homburg. As a premium partner of the “Deutsche Tennis Bund” (DTB – German Tennis Association), the company supports Porsche Team Germany in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly the Fed Cup) and fosters up-and-coming players in the Porsche Talent Team and the Porsche Junior Team. Angelique Kerber, Julia Görges and Maria Sharapova give Porsche a face in tennis as Brand Ambassadors.


Further information, film and photo material in the Porsche Newsroom: newsroom.porsche.com

Markus Rothermel

Communications, Sustainability and Politics

Spokesperson Sports Communications

+49 (0) 170 / 911 0779

Text

Englisch (Porsche AG)

T21_0631

18.06.2021

    • Tennis
    • Saison 2021
    • Markenbotschafter
    • Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
    • Presse-Informationen

Interview with the Porsche Brand Ambassador Angelique Kerber: "I see the new tournaments in Germany as a big chance"

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