Maria Sharapova gets wild card to play in...
A stunning field is set to appear at the Stuttgart Open from 22 to 28 April 2019. Eight top ten players will compete, which means that only Aryna Sabalenka and Serena Williams will not be there. Naomi Osaka headlines the field, as well as Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep. The three-time champion Maria Sharapova, who won 2012, 2013 and 2014 titles, got a top 20 wild card. Stuttgart marked Sharapova's comeback to the competition after a doping ban in 2017. She is the Porsche brand ambassador and this year's Stuttgart will be very important again for her as she will make her return to the competition for the first time since the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy in early February. The 31-year-old withdrew Indian Wells and Miami in order to undergo a small right shoulder procedure.
The Tournament Director Markus Gunthardt said: “We’re delighted we can once again offer our audience such a fantastic field containing all the current Grand Slam winners and eight of the world’s Top 10 players. For me, it’s a guarantee for exciting and high-class matches."
Anke Huber, the Operating Tournament Director, sees Osaka's appearance as an opportunity for the event to grow internationally and in a big country like Japan: “For us it’s a special honour that she, the new world number 1 and momentarily the most interesting player on the WTA Tour, has decided to come to our tournament."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2CkKwR7
No comments