“The best women’s tennis I’ve ever seen”
Stuttgart. Stuttgart. It was a week of superlatives. Tennis of the highest order, a final between the world No. 1 and 2, more spectators and internet fans than ever before – the 35th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was a big success in all respects. When reviewing the week, Christian Dau, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Porsche AG, Laura Ceccarelli, the WTA Supervisor, Tournament Director Markus Günthardt and the Operating Tournament Director Anke Huber, were all very positive. When speaking at the Closing Press Conference in the Porsche Arena, they said...
…the 2012 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix:
Christian Dau: “As far as Porsche AG is concerned, we are highly satisfied. Comparing the tournament with the one in 2011, then we have made an enormous step forwards in terms of the attendance. We were able to increase the figure from approximately 32,000 to 40,000. It’s tremendous even when remembering that, due to Good Friday, we had one day less in 2011. We also had a tennis week of an incredibly high standard. The world’s top four players in the semifinals, the top two in the final – it’s definitely a highlight. The injury to Andrea Petkovic on the other hand hit us like a blow to the stomach. We hope she can return to the court as soon as possible. Also very pleasing was the number of Porsche Tennis Grand Prix fans in facebook has risen from 11,000 on the first day of the tournament to over 40,000 immediately before the final.”
Laura Ceccarelli: “We’ve had a wonderful cooperation with Porsche for 35 years now and it couldn’t have gone any better. Coming to the tournament is, for me, like coming home. The players also all feel at home here and have voted the tournament as their favourite Premiere Event four times in recent years. And I can assure you it’s a much sought after award that many tournaments would covet. We were also very pleased with the worldwide TV cover-age.”
Markus Günthardt: “The tournament concept is right but we are striving to continue to im-prove the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. We are now more than a tennis tournament, we are an event for the whole family with lots of activities and attractions – from the ITF Porsche Beach Tennis Grand Prix to the performance of the world famous Stuttgart Ballet before the final.“
....the tennis highlights:
Anke Huber: “We had eight Top 10 players here and 17 from the top 20 – it’ll probably never get any better. Maria Sharapova is obviously a piece of luck. From a German point of view, two new faces have played themselves into the limelight. Mona Barthel and Angelique Kerber both had great tournaments. The injury to Andrea Petkovic is naturally bitter but I hope for her that she will quickly return full fitness. The four best tennis players in the semifinals and the number one and number two in the final – it’s something tournaments dream about.”
Markus Günthardt: “It was the best women’s tennis I’ve ever seen.”
...the 2013 tournament 2013:
Markus Günthardt: “Our aim is obviously to continue to improve the tournament. We want to be better in 2013. The success of the 2012 event is for me the best motivation for 2013.”
Please note: the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix photo library, a part of the Porsche Press Data Bank, is available to all accredited journalists at the internet address http://presse.porsche.de.
29/04/2012
