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Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, played in Stuttgart, is one of the most popular WTA events on the calendar, and as the name suggests, a popular car manufacturer is the main sponsor.
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a WTA 500 event held in Stuttgart each season. Its common name references Porsche because the car manufacturer is the main sponsor. Some also refer to the competition as the Stuttgart Open, but that's also a name for the men's tournament, which is played on grass in June.
Initially, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix had grand plans to become a professional-level men’s event. But, due to a lack of interest, founder and businessman Dieter Fischer decided to rebrand the competition as a women’s tournament.
In 1978, the first-ever Stuttgart Open took place at the Tennis Sporthalle Filderstadt, where the event remained until 2005. After the competition launched in 1978, Porsche has been the main sponsor and a key stakeholder. The luxury car brand has featured heavily on the event’s branding and advertising.
Players are also involved in the deal. Annual winners receive a brand-new Porsche alongside their prize money and WTA points. Porsche eventually purchased the tournament rights in 2002. Four years later, in 2006, the event moved to the Porsche Arena, where it has stayed ever since.
In the WTA 500 competition, a women’s singles draw of 32 players takes place across one week in spring each season. A doubles draw of 16 pairs is also played at the Porsche Arena. Since 1978, some of the WTA’’s best-ever players have entered and won the tournament.
Tracy Austin won the first-ever Stuttgart Open at the age of 15. She went on to win four career titles at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. But Martina Navratilova is the most decorated player at the event. She won the singles title six times between 1982 and 1992. The former American star also had immense success in the doubles, which she won a record seven times, including four alongside Pam Shriver.
